US1945875A - Folding berth - Google Patents

Description

E. E. WOLLER Feb. 6, 1934.

FOLDING BERTH Filed Aug. 15, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 6, 1934. E. E. WOLLER 1,945,875

FOLDING BERTH Filed Allg. 13, 1931 q:5 Sheets-Sheet 2 liu/anto irda/afd Il.' 74/0 l l l -E. E. WOLLER FOLDING BERTH Feb. 6, 1934,

Patented Feb. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT y OFFICE FOLDING BERTH poration of Delaware Application August 13, 1931. Serial No. 556,805

1 Claim.

This invention relates to folding berths, sometimes called disappearing bunks, such as are often used in the state rooms of boats and like vessels and in similar places in other vehicles.

The main object of the invention is to provide a folding berth of the type referred to, which will be comparatively easy to manipulate and which will be firm and rigid in its extended position so as to constitute a safe and comfortable bed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood by reference to the following specication and accompanying drawings (three sheets), in which a selected embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective illustrating the general arrangement of a folding berth embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevation partly in section 20 showing the folding berth partly folded.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing the parts in folded position.

Figure 4 is a detail showing the manner of connecting one end of a cable to the end of the berth.

Figure 5 is a sectional View on the line 5-5 of Figure 1, illustrating a device for, locking a part of the structure in open or unfolded position.

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a sectional View showing the construction of a counterbalancing device which is shown in elevation in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an enlarged view showing a portion of the structure shown in Figure 1, certain parts being broken away and shown in section to more clearly illustrate the structure.

Figure 9 is a section on the line 9-9of Figure 8.

Figures 10 and 11 are sectional views illustrating certain locking devices for holding the folding parts in folded position. v

Referring now to the drawings, I have illustrated in Figure 1 one corner of a state room wherein a bed of any conventional form is positioned in one corner of the room, and a disappearing or folding bed 16 is located in the same corner of the room above the bed l5. The disappearing bed 16 is designed to be folded into a receptacle 17, which includes end and side walls 18, 19, 20 and 2l, respectively, and a top closure 22' which may, if desired, be the ceiling of the state room or a special closure for the bed-receiving receptacle.

The bed 16 may be of any convenient construction and, in this instance, includes a frame 22 which sustains any suitable form of bed spring fabric, upon which a mattress 23 is positioned. Head and foot frames 24 and 25, respectively, are mounted at the head and foot ends of the frame, and a lee or side rail 26 is mounted on the side frame adjacent the head end .of the bed. The head frame and lee rail 24 and 26, respectively, are adapted to be folded over the adjacent portions of themattress, the head frame 24 preferably Voverlapping the lee rail 26. 'I'he foot end 3|, frame 25 is also mounted so as to be displaceable into folded position betweenrthe mattress and the bed spring fabric carried bythe frame 22 or ln other suitable position.

Thebed bottom 16 is foldably mounted at one i side on a panel board 27, a hinge bracket'28 being secured to the panel in any suitable manner for co-operating with the hinge bracket 29 whichis carried by the end frame member of' the bed frame 22. The hinge members 28 and 29 are pivu, oted together, as indicated at 30, whereby it'will be seen that the bed bottom 16 is foldable relative to the panel 27 from laterally extending bed position, as indicated in broken lines in Figure 2, to partially folded position substantially parallel a9 with the panel, as shown in full lines in Figure 2.

Of course, it will be understood that a "similar pivotal connection is provided at both 'ends of the bed bottom. Y

The panel 27 is foldably connected by means si of a hinge structure 31 adjacent its upper edge to the receptacle side member 19. By virtue' of the pivotal connection l'between the panel 27 and the receptacle 19, the panel and the bed bottom 16, when folded to the full line position shown 9 0 in Figure 2, are adapted to be folded about the A pivot 31 into the receptacle 17.v

For locking the bed bottom and panel in folded position within the receptacle 17, a springpressed latch bar 32 is provided in the receptacle 9 6 at each end thereof for co-operating with a latch-receiving lip 33 carried by thefadjacent side of the panel 27 (see Figures 3 and 10) HThe latch bar 32 is normally urged intolocking engagement with the lip 33 by means of-a'spring 100 34, and the latch is adapted to be disengaged through the agency of the knob 35 which is connected to the latch so that the same maybe yretracted against the pressure of the spring Y34, as will be apparent from an inspection of Figure 10. 1.05

In its unfolded position, as shown in Figure 1, the bed bottom 16 is effectively locked in xed position relative to the panel 27 and relative to the receptacle 17 by means of a rigid bar 36 which is pivotally connectedvat its opposite ends l1! to the bed bottom, as indicated at 36', and to the end Wall 20 of the receptacle. The lower end of the rigid bar 36 is pivotally connected to the bed fraine in any suitable manner, and the upper end of the bar 36 is detachably connected to the receptacle wall 20 by means of the disengageable latch device illustrated in Figures 8 and 9..

'Ifhe supporting bar 26 is preferably of tubular construction and is provided with suitable bearing blocks 37 and 38, respectively, for supporting a locking rod 39 for longitudinal movement Within the tubular bar 36. Adjacent the lower bearing member 38, a block or collar 40 is secured to the rod 39 and provided with an end piece 41 which projects outwardlythrough a slot 42 provided in the tubular bar. A spring 43 interposed between the collar 40 and the bearing member 38 normally urges the rod 39 to move upwardly. The upper end of the bar 36 is provided with an opening adapted to i'it over a stud 45 which is suitably secured to the receptacle wall 20. The stud 45 is provided with a groove 46 into which the bar or rod 39 is caused to project so as to prevent'4 displacementof thev upper end Vof the bar 36 from the stud 45; Obviously, displacement may be effected by moving the rod 39 downwardly against the pressure of the spring 43, such movement being effected through the agency of the end piece 41.

It will be understood thatV the bar 36 by which the outer or free side of the bed bottom is suspended from the receptacle 17 co-operates with the panel 27Y to support the bed bottom in operative position. The rigidity of the bar 36 obviously serves to prevent upward swinging of the bed bottom about its pivot 30.

To prevent side sway or swinging of the bed bottom about, the pivotsY 3l and 45, the panel 27 is locked at its-free endV to thev wall 47 by means of Va, locking device 48 at the free side of the panel. (See Figures 1, 2 and 5.) The lockingA device 48 includes va bracket element 49 whichis pivotally secured, as indicated at 50, to the panel 27 adjacent its free side, the bracket 49 having an apertured boss 51 forslidably and rotatably receiving a locking screw 52. The

locking screw 52 is provided with screw threadingas indicated at 53, at one end, and with a knob 54 at its other end for facilitating manipulation of the screw-which is designed to 'engage a screw-threaded socket bracket l5,5 which is secured to the wall in'any suitable manner. The aperturedboss 51 is counterbored, as shown at 56,- to Ypermit the locking screw 52 to be drawn outwardly until the screw-threaded end thereof is entirely within the boss 51, so that the bracket 49 may be swung about its pivot 50 so as to be Within the area oi the panel, whereby the panel may be swung into closed position, as shown in Figure 3. It will be understood that the lockingscrew 52 vis provided with an annular enlargement 57 which co-operates with the knob l54 to anchor the locking screw to the bracket 49, and that the counterbcring 56 is provided for receiving said annular enlargement. If desired, the panel 27 may be provided with wear plates, such as indicated at 58, for receiving the locking bolts 52 when the same are swung inwardly as lines in Figure 2, wherein it is parallel to theY plane of the panel 27. Of course, it is understood that the end frames 24 and 25 and the lee rail 26 are iirst folded over, as previously reierred to. For locking the bed bottom 16'in the full-line folded position of Figure 2, a locking device such as illustrated in Figure 1l is provided. This locking device consists of an inverted hook-like bracket 59 which is suitably secured to the panel 27 adjacent its upper or inner edge. Mounted in the bracket So'which supports one end of the lee rail 26 is a spring-pressed dog 6l, this dog being pivotally anchored, as indicated at 62, in the'bracket 60 and normally urged outwardly by means oi a spring 63.

The outer end of the dog 6i is provided with a hook 64 designed to snap back of the inverted hook bracket 59 to thereby lock the bed bottom 16 in the folded position shown. A button 65 may be provided for facilitating disengagenient of the locking dog 64 when itisdesired to unfold the bed. The vlocking dog 64 also serves to lock the lee rail 26 in up position when the bed is extended.

From the full line, partly folded position shown in Figure 2, the bed bottoni i6 and panel 27 are adapted to be folded as a unit about the pivot 3l into the receptacle 17 .as-shown in full lines in Figure 3. The locking device shown in Figure .lo and previously described is then operative to lock the bed in such folded position.

it will be observed that only 'one corner of the bed is supported in its extended positionby a bar such as 36 and that the corresponding corner of the bed at the opposite end thereof is supported by means of a bracket 66 secured to the wall and which may. conveniently constitute an electric light bracket as indicated in'Figure 1. The bed may be locked to the-bracket V66 by any suitable means, if desired, or it may merely rest thereon.

For facilitating folding of the bed in the manner described,` counterbalancing kmeans is provided. In this instance, the counterbalancing means is located within the receptacle `17 so as to be practically concealed. The counterbalanc'- ing meansherein shown is in the f orinrof` a pair of spring-controlled rollers designated 67 and 68, respectively, the construction of these rollers being more lfully lshown in Figure/7.7-

.By inspection of Figurev 7, it will be seen that there is a central shaft 69 Awhich. isY anchoredv lio At opposite sides of the intermediate lbracket 72, there are provided collars 73 and-74, 'respectively, which are rotatably mounted on the shaft 69. At the opposite ends Yofthe shaft 69, there are collars 75 and 76, respectively, which are also rotatably mounted on the shaft 69 and Which are respectively connected to thevcollars 73 and 74for rotation in unison therewith by means of sleeves or tubes 77 and 78, respectively. Torsion springs 79 and 80 are disposed within the respective tubes 77 Vand 78 and around the enclosed portions of the shaft 69, one end of each spring being anchored to the shaft as indicated at 81 and 82, while the opposite ends of the respective springs are anchored to the collars '13 and 74, as indicated at 83 and 84, respectively.

Each of the end collars and 76 are provided with spirally cut grooves, such as indicated at 85 and 86, respectively, for receiving cables such as 87 and 88, each of which has one end suitably anchored to the collar on which it is wound.

From the respective collars or drums 75 and '76, the respective cables extend along the inside 0f the adjacent ends of the receptacle over and downwardly around guide pulleys located ntermediate the width of the receptacle, as indicated at 89 in Figure 2, the outer end of each cable being pivotally secured to the adjacent end of the bed bottom frame, as indicated at 90.

The construction of the pivot connection 90 between the cable and the bed frame 22, is shown in Figure 4. By examination of Figure 4, it will be seen that the end of the cable is anchored in a bracket plate 90, which plate is secured to an anchor block 91. The anchor block 91 is provided with a recess 92 for receiving a headed pivot pin 93 which is rigidly secured to the bed frame 22, as clearly shown in said Figure 4.

When the bed is in extended position as shown in Figure 1 (and as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2), the cables 87 and 88 are, of course, unwound from the respective drums or reels '75 and 76, and the counterbalancing springs 79 and 80 are wound suiciently to counterbalance the weight of the bed bottom and panel. Obviously, the spring counterbalancing arrangement described serves to facilitate manipulation of the folding bed structure by relieving the operator of the necessity of handling the entire weight of the folding structure, whereby the operation of the folding bed is greatly facilitated and the labor necessary to expend in such operation is greatly reduced.

The arrangement of the counterbalancing means within the receptacle, as described, is highly desirable in that it is practically out of sight, whereby the neatness of appearance of the structure is not impaired and whereby it is out of the way and not apt to be damaged by engagement with various parts of the folding structure, or otherwise.

I am aware that changes may be made in the described structure without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which should be determined by reference to the following claims, the same being construed as broadly as possible consistent with the state of the art.

I claim as my invention:

In a folding berth of the class described, the combination of a downwardly facing receptacle, a panel pivotally connected at one side to said receptacle and foldable from closed position to open position wherein the panel extends downwardly from said receptacle and substantially parallel to an adjacent wall, a bed bottom foldably secured to said panel and means for locking the free edge of said panel to said wall when the bed is eX- tended, said means including a bracket and a lccking member, the bracket being pivoted to said panel adjacent said free edge and adapted to eX- tend beyond said free edge for engagement with the wall, the bracket being pivotally adjustable from said position to a position within the area of the panel to thereby position said locking bracket within the area of said receptacle when the panel is folded to closed position.

EDWARD E. WOLLER.

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