US3317931A

US3317931A - Adjustable bed

Info

Publication number: US3317931A
Application number: US479430A
Authority: US
Inventors: Roland A Benoit; Robert F Gingras
Original assignee: ROYALMETAL CORP
Current assignee: ROYALMETAL CORP
Priority date: 1965-08-13
Filing date: 1965-08-13
Publication date: 1967-05-09
Anticipated expiration: 1984-05-09

Description

May 9, 1967 R. A. BENOIT ETAL 3,317,931

ADJUSTABLE BED sheets-sheet 2 Filed Aug. l5, 1965 May 9, 1967 R. A. BENOIT ETAL ADJUSTABLE BED Filed Aug. 13, 1965 INVENTORS ROLAND A. BENOIT Sheets-Sheet 5 ROBERT E GINGRAE MMM-MK ATTORNEY United States Patent ilice 3,317,931 Patented May 9, 1967 3,317,931 ADJUSTABLE BED Roland A. Benoit, Fresh Meadows, and Robert F.

Gingras, Danielson, N .Y., assignors to Royalmetal Corporation, New York, NSY., a corporation of Illinois Filed Aug. 13, 1965, Ser. No. 479,430 11 Claims. (Cl. 5-68) The present invention relates in general to beds and in particular to an adjustable bed in which the mattress support member may assume any of a wide range of composite shapes or contours.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a new and improved adjustable bed which is relatively simple in construction and reliable in operation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an adjustable 4bed in which the sections of the mattress support member may assume various different positions relative to one another so as to result in a desired composite shape or contour.

lt is a further object of the present invention to pro vide an adjustable bed of the character described in which the entire mattress support member may be tilted in a straight line with either the head end elevated and the foot end low or vice versa.

An adjustable bed constructed in accordance with the present invention includes a support fra-me and movable frame movable vertically relative to the support frame. Also included are means for moving the movable frame upward and downward and a mattress support member movable with the movable frame and having a plurality of panels pivotally linked together. There are additionally included a first extendable telescoping assembly having one end thereof pivotally connected to the support frame and the other end thereof coupled to the movable frame and to t-he mattress support member along with a second extendable telescop-ing assembly having one end thereof pivotally connected to the support frame and the other end thereof coupled to the mattress support member. Further, the adjustable bed according to the invention includes means for locking the extendable telescoping assemblies in their extended positions.

For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference is had to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is atop plan View, partially cut-away, of an adjustable bed constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of an adjustable bed according to the present invention showing this bed in its lowered position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of an adjustable bed according to the present invention showing this bed in its raised position;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of an adjustable bed constructed in accordance with the present invention showing this bed in its lowered position with the mattress support member bent according to a desired contour; and

FIGS. 5 and 6 show details of the locking devices for telescoping assemblies used on an adjustable bed constructed in accordance with the present invention and taken along lines 5--5 of FIG. 2 and 6-6 of FIG. 3 respectively.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an adjustable bed constructed in accordance with the present invention includes -a support frame 10. Support frame 1t) is composed of a pair of

side rails

11, 11 and a plurality of

transverse members

12a, 12b, 12e and 12d running between the

side rails

11, 11.

The adjustable bed of the invention further includes a movable frame 13 which is movable vertically relative to the support fra-me 10, The movable frame is composed of a pair of

side members

14, 14 and a plurality of

transverse members

15a, 15b, 15c and 15d running between the

side members

14, 14.

Transverse members

15a, 15b, 15e and 15d are seen in FIG. 2 to be of L-shaped cross-section.

The adjustable bed of the invention further includes means for moving the movable frame 13 upw-ard and downward. This operation may be accomplished by means of a motor l16, only the housing of which is shown, xed to the support frame 10 with the output shaft of the motor coupled to the support frame 13. Specically, the output shaft of the motor 16 drives a threaded shaft 17 which, in turn, Imoves a pair of transverse drive members 11811 and 18b back and forth -horizontally dependent upon the direction of rotation of the output shaft of the motor. The transverse drive members 18a and 18b are each provided at their ends with pairs of

rollers

19a, 19a and 19b, 19b, respectively, which move within tracks in the side rails 111, 11 of the support frame 10. Coupled to the ends of each of the transverse drive members 18a and 18h are obliquely extending links, all designated by reference numeral 20a, which pivot about the centers of the

rollers

19a, 19a and 19b, 19b, respectively. The opposite ends of the obliquely extending ends 20a are coupled to transverse tubular members 20a spanning the width of the movable frame 13 and pivot about the centers of these two transverse members. Associated with each obliquely extending link 20a is a restraining link 20b which has one end thereof pivotally connected to the

respective side rail

11, 11 of support frame at pivot point 20c and the other end thereof pivotally connected to the obliquely extending link at pivot point 20d.

As the threaded shaft 17 turns, the transverse drive mem-bers 18a and 18b move back and forth horizontally dependent upon the direction of rotation of the threaded shaft. As the transverse drive members 18a and 18b move out-ward (18a to the left and 1Sb to the right), the ends of the obliquely extending links 20a which are coupled to the movable frame 13 m-ove upward. When the transverse drive members 18a and 18h move inward (18a to the right and 18!) to the left), the ends of the obliquely extending links 20a which are coupled to the movable frame 13 move downward. In this manner, the mov-able frame 13 is moved upward and downward. A first control leve-r 21 and a control cable 22, responsive to the movements of the control lever 21, are provided for engaging the motor driven threaded shaft 17 to move the movable frame 13 upward and downward. One movement of the control lever 21 results in an yupward movement of the movable frame 13, while an opposite movement, for example, of the control lever results in a downward movement of the movable frame.

Also included in the adjustable bed of the invention is a mattress support member 23 movable with the movable frame 13 and having a plurality of panels pivotally linked together. For the particular embodiment shown in the drawings, the mattress support member 23 is composed of four

panels

23a, 23b, 23C and 23d linked together at pivot points 24a, 2411 4and 24C. For the condition illustrated in FIG. 2, the mattress support member 23 and the movable frame 13 are in abutting relationship. The mattress support member 23 carries four stops 25, two on panel 23a and two on panel 23C, with all extending downward and abutting against the top surfaces of the

side members

14, 14 of the movable frame 13. The stops 25 serve two purposes. First, with the adjustable bed in the condition illustrated in FIG. 2, the stops maintain the mattress support member 23 at a predetermined height above the movable frame 13. Second, as the movable frame 13 is driven upward from the condition illustrated in FIG. 2, the mattress support member 23, in abutting relationship with the movable frame through the stops 25, is also driven upward.

The adjustable bed of the invention additionally includes a first expandable telescoping assembly 26 having one end thereof pivotally connected to the support frame 10 and the other end thereof coupled to the movable frame 13 and the mattress support member 23. Specifically, the lower end of the inner member 26a of the telescoping assembly 26 pivots about a bearing shaft 27a of a sup -port bracket 27 fixed to one of the inner transverse members 12b of the s-upport frame 10. Connected to the free end of the outer member26b of the telescoping assembly 26 is a pair of

coupling links

28, 28, one on each side of the bed. This connection is effected through a transverse rod 31 to which the

coupling links

28, 28 are aiiixed and a support bracket 29 affixed to the transverse rod 31. The free end of the outer member 2619 of the telescoping assembly 26 pivots about the bearing shaft 29a of the support bracket 29. The opposite ends of the

coupling links

28, 28 are pivotally connected to the mattress support member 23 at oppositely disposed

pivot points

30, 30 in panel 23a. By virtue of the construction just described, one end of each of the

coupling links

28, 28 is effectively pivoted about the free end of the outer member 2611 of the telescoping assembly 26, while the other ends of the coupling links pivot about

pivot points

30, 30.

A second pair of

coupling links

32, 32, one on each side of the bed, is also provided. One end of each of the

coupling links

32, 32 is pivotally connected to the free end -of the outer member 26h of the telescoping assembly 26 through the rigid connections at

points

33, 33 at the lower ends of the

respective coupling links

28, 28 while the other end of the

links

32, 32 is pivotally connected to the movable frame 13 at

pivot points

34, 34 on the

side members

14, 14 of the movable frame.

The adjustable bed of the invention further includes a second expandable telescoping assembly 35 having one end thereof pivotally connected to the support frame 10 and the other end thereof coupled to the mattress support member 23. Specifically, the lower end of the inner member 35a of the telescoping assembly 35 pivots about a bearing shaft 36a of a support bracket 36 fixed t-o the other of the inner transverse members 12C of the support frame 10. Connected to the free end of the outer member 35b of the telescoping assembly 35 is a third pair of

coupling links

37, 37 one on each side of the bed. This connection is eecte'd through a transverse rod 40 to which the coupling links 37, 37 are affixed and a support bracket 38 aiixed to the transverse rod 40. The free end of the outer member 35h of the telescoping assembly 35 pivots about the Ibearing shaft 38a of the support bracket 38. The other end of the

coupling links

37, 37 are connected to the mattress support member 23 at oppositely disposed

points

39, 39 in panel 23C.

Each of the

telescoping assemblies

26 and 35 are provided with means for locking the telescoping assemblies in their extended positions. FIG. 3 shows the adjustable bed f the invention in its raised position. In comparing FIGS. 2 and 3, it is seen that not only do the

telescoping assemblies

26 and 35 pivot about

bearing shafts

27a and 36a, respectively, as the -bed is raised, but each of the telescoping assemblies also extends with a complete extension of each resulting when the bed is raised to its highest elevation.

Identical locking devices

42 and 43 are provided for each of the

telescoping assemblies

26 and 35, respectively, which are actuated to lock the telescoping assemblies in their extended positions. FIGS. and 6 illustrate the details of the

locking mechanisms

42 and 43 as both locking mechanisms are identical only one will be described in detail. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, when the inner member 26a moves sufiiciently to the right, which corresponds to the complete extended position of the telescoping assembly, an opening 51 in the wall of the inner member 26a is positioned below a ball 52 carried on a shaft 53. If the ball 52 is pushed through the opening 51 into the chamber of the inner member 26a, the shaft 53 prevents any appreciable relative movement between the inner member 26a and the outer member 26h of the telescoping assembly and the telescoping assembly is locked. When the ball 53 is removed from the chamber of the inner member 26a, the shaft 53 no longer acts to obstruct relative movement between the inner member 26a and the outer member 26h and the telescoping assembly is unlocked. The locking and unlocking of the

telescopic assemblies

26 and 35 or more particularly, the insertion and withdrawal of the ball 52 may be accomplished through the action of two

control cables

61 and 62, respectively, controlled by second and third control levers 63 and 64, respectively. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the inner member 55 of the control cable is anchored in a plunger 56 to which the shaft 53 is secured, while the outer member 57 of the control cable is Secured to the outer member 26b by means of a sleeve 58 and a cap 59 threaded onto the sleeve 58.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, after the movable frame 13 has been raised to the position shown in FIG. 3 and the

telescoping assembly

26 and 35 are locked through actuation of the locking

mechanisms

42 and 43, the threaded shaft 17 and motor 16 are engaged so that the movable frame is moved downward. The mattress support member 23 also moves downward due to the pulling by the movable frame effected by the connections between the coupling links 28, 28 and 32, 32. However, due to the fact that the

telescoping assemblies

26 and 35 are now extended rigid connections, as the movable frame 13 and the mattress support member 23 move downward, the various panels of the mattress sup port member are forced to move relative to one another about the pivot points in the mattress support member, within certain constraints, so that the mattress support member assumes a shape such as the one, for example, shown in FIG. 4. The relative orientations of the panels of the mattress support member 23 vary as the movable frame 13 and the mattress support member move downward so that a wide variety of contours of the mattress support member are possible. In order to return the mattress support member 23 to the at condition, the movable frame 13 is driven upward and through the coupling links 28, 28 and 32, 32 pushes the mattress support member upward. Both are moved to the raised position so as to take the load off the

locking devices

42 and 43 of the

telescoping assemblies

26 and 35, respectively, thus permitting unlocking of the telescoping assemblies. After the

telescoping assemblies

26 and 35 are unlocked, the movable frame 13 is moved downward. The mattress support member 23, again in abutting relationship with the movable frame 13 through the stops 25, also moves downward with the movable frame.

A feature of the invention is that the adjustable bed may be tilted so that either end is raised relative to the other end. This is accomplished by disengaging either the transverse drive member 18a or the transverse drive member 18h, dependent upon which end is to move upward and which end is to remain in the lower position, from the threaded shaft 17. This disengagement is effected by manipulation of one of a pair of handles 67 or 68 fixed to

rods

69 and 70 which extend to slidable plates 71 and 72 bearing on the transverse drive members 18a and 18b, respectively. The slidable plates 71 and 72 are provided with teeth or half-nuts (not shown) on the undersides which engage the threaded shaft 17. However, when either of the slidable plates 71 or 72 is moved out of disengagement from the threaded shaft 17, the respective transverse drive member 18a or 18b remains in the position `illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 since the drive to the transverse drive member has been disconnected.

Four casters, all designated by the reference numeral 66, are provided at the corners of the bed to facilitate movement -of the bed from site to site.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may Ibe made therein without departing from the invention and it is, therefore, aimed to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable bed comprising:

(a) -a support frame;

(b) a movable frame movable vertically relative to said support frame;

(c) means for moving said movable frame upward and downward;

(d) a mattress support 4member movable with said movable frame and having a plurality of panels pivotally linked together;

(e) a first extendable telescopin-g assembly having one end thereof pivotally connected to said support frame and the other end thereof coupled to said movable frame and to said mattress support member;

(f) a second extendable telescoping assembly having one end thereof pivotally connected to said support frame and the other end thereof coupled to said mattress support member;

(-g) means for locking said extendable telescoping assemblies in their extended positions said telescopic 'assemblies being located above the lower level of the bed when in inoperative position.

2. An adjustable bed comprising:

(a) a support frame;

(b) a movable frame movable vertically relative to said support frame;

(c) means for moving said movable frame upward and downward;

(d) a mattress support member movable with said movable fr-ame and having a plurality of panels pivotally linked together;

(e)y Ia first extendable telescoping assembly having one end thereof pivotally connected to said support frame and the other end thereof coupled to said movable frame throu-gh a first pair of coupling links )and to said mattress support member through Ia second pair of coupling links;

(f) a second extendable telescoping assembly having one end thereof pivotally connected to said support frame and the other end thereof coupled to said mattress support member through a third pair of coupling links;

(g) means for locking said extendable telescoping assemblies in their extended positions sai-d telescopic assemblies being located above the lower level of the bed when in inoperative position.

3. An adjustable bed comprising:

(a) a support frame;

(b) a movable frame movable vertically relative to said support frame;

(c) means for moving said movable frame upward and downward;

(d) a mattress support member movable with said movable frame and having a plurality of panels pivotally linked together;

(e) a first extendable telescoping assembly having one end thereof pivotally connected to said support frame;

(f) a first pair of coupling links each having one end thereof pivotally connected to the free end of said first extendable telescoping assembly and the other end thereof pivotally connected to said movable frame;

(g) a second pair of coupling links each having one end thereof pivotally connected to said free end of said first extendable telescoping assembly and the other end thereof pivotally connected to said mattress sup-port member;

(h) a second extendable telescoping assembly having one end thereof pivotally connected to said support frame;

(i) a third pair of coupling links each having one end thereof pivotally connected to the free end of said second extendable telescoping assembly and the other end thereof connected to said mattress support mem-ber;

(j) and means for locking said extendable telescoping assemblies in their extended positions.

4. An adjustable bed according to claim 3 wherein the movable frame and the mattress support member move together in abutting relationship when the telescoping assemblies are unlocked and when the telescop-ing lassemblies are locked, the movable frame pulls the mattress support downward and pushes the mattress support upward through the coupling links.

5. An adjustable bed comprising:

(a) a support frame;

(b) a movable frame movable vertically relative to said support frame;

(c) a motor fixed to said support frame and having its output shaft coup-led to said movable frame;

(d) a first control lever for engaging said motor to move said movable frame upward and downward; (e) a mattress support member movable with said movable frame and having a plurality of panels pivotally linked together;

(f) a first extendable telescoping assembly having one end thereof pivotally connected to said support frame and the other end thereof coupled to said movable frame `and said mattress support member;

(g) a second extendable telescoping assembly having one end thereof pivotally connected to said support frame and the other end thereof coupled to said mattress support member;

(h) -a second control lever and a first flexible cable for locking said first extendable telescoping assembly in its extended position;

(i) and a third control lever and second flexible cable for locking said second extendable telescoping assembly in its extended position.

6. An adjustable bed comprising:

(a) a support frame;

(b) a movable frame movable vertically relative to said support frame;

(c) a motor fixed to said support frame and havin-g its output shaft coupled to said movable frame;

(d) a first control lever for engaging said motor to -move said movable frame upward and downward; (e) a mattress support member movable with said movable frame and having a plurality of panels pivotally linked together;

(f) a rst extendable telescoping assembly having one end thereof pivotally connected to said support frame;

(g) a first pair of coupling links each having one end thereof pivotally connected to the free end of said first extendable telescoping assembly and the other end thereof pivotally connected to said movable frame; I

(h) a second pair of coupling links each having one end thereof pivotally connected to said free end of said rst extendable telescoping assembly and the other end thereof pivotally connected to said mattress support member; Y

(i) va second extendable telescoping assembly having one end thereof pivotally connected to said support frame;

(j) a third pair of coupling links each having one end thereof pivotally connected to the free end of said second extendable telescoping assembly and the other end thereof connected to said mattress support member;

(k) a second control lever and a first fiexible cable for locking said first extendable telescoping assembly in its extended position;

(l) and a third control lever and a second flexible cable for locking said second extendable telescoping assembly in its extended position.

7. An adjustable bed comprising:

(a) a support frame;

(b) a movable frame movable vertically relative to said support frame;

(c) a motor fixed to said support frame;

(d) a threaded shaft coupled to the output shaft of said motor;

(e) first drive coupling means engaging said threaded shaft for moving one end of said movable frame upward and downward;

(f) second drive coupling means engaging said threaded shaft for moving the other end of said movable frame upward and downward;

( g) a mattress support member mov-able with said movable frame and having a plurality of panels pivotally linked together;

(h) -a first extendable telescoping assembly having one end thereof pivotally connected to said support frame and the other endthereof coupled to said movable frame and to said mattress support member;

(i) a second extendable telescoping assembly having one end thereof pivotally connected to said support frame and the other end thereof coupled to said mattress support member;

8. An adjustable bed `according to claim 7 wherein the threaded shaft runs parallel to the long dimension of the bed.

9. An adjustable bed comprising:

(a) a support frame;

(b) a movable frame movable vertically relative to said support frame;

(c) a motor fixed to said support frame;

(d) a threaded shaft coupled to the output shaft of said motor and running parallel to the long dimension of said bed;

(g) a mattress support member movable with said movable frame and having a plurality of panels pivotally linked together;

(h) a first extendable telescoping assembly having one end thereof pivotally connected to said support frame;

(i) a first pair of coupling links each having one end thereof pivotally connected to the free end of said first extendable telescoping assembly and the other end thereof pivotally connected to said movable frame;

(j) a second pair of coupling links each having one end thereof pivotally connected to said free end of said vfirst extendable telescoping assembly and the other end thereof pivotally connected to said mattress support member;

(k) a second extendable telescoping assembly having one end thereof pivotally connected to said support frame;

(l) a third pair of coupling links each having one end thereof pivotally connected to the free end of said second extendable telescoping assembly and the other end thereof connected to said mattress support member;

(m) and means for locking said extendable telescoping assemblies in their extended positions.

10. An adjustable bed comprising:

(a) a support frame;

(b) a movable frame movable vertically relative to said support frame;

(c) a motor fixed to said support frame;

(e) first drive coupling means engaging said threaded shaft for moving one end of' said movable frame upward and downward;

(j) a second pair of coupling links each having one end thereof pivotally connected to said free end of said first extendable telescoping assembly and the other end thereof pivotally connected to said mattress support member;

(k) a first locking mechanism for locking said first telescoping assembly in its extended position;

(l) a second extendable telescoping assembly having one end thereof pivotally connected to said support frame;

(m) a third pair of coupling links each having one end thereof pivotally connected to the free end of said second extendable telescoping assembly and the other end thereof connected to said mattress support member;

(n) a second locking mechanism for locking said second telescoping assembly in its extended position; (o) a first control lever and a first fiexible cable for controlling said first locking mechanism to lock and unlock said first telescoping assembly;

(p) and a second control lever and a second fiexible cable for controlling said second locking mechanism to lock and unlock said second telescoping assembly.

11. An adjustable bed comprising:

(a) a support frame;

(b) a movable frame movable vertically relative to said support frame;

(c) a motor fixed to said support frame;

l (f) second drive coupling means engaging said threaded shaft for moving the other end of said movable frame upward and downward;

(g) a mattress support member'movable with said movable frame and having a plurality of panels pivotally linked together;

(n) a second locking mechanism for locking said second telescoping assembly in its extended position;

(o) a first control lever and a first flexible cable for 10 controlling said first locking mechanism to lock and unlock said first telescoping assembly;

(p) a second control lever and a second flexible cable for controlling said second locking mechanism to lock and unlock said second telescoping assembly;

(q) rst disengagement means for disengaging said first drive coupling means from said threaded shaft;

(r) and second disengagement means for disengaging said second dri-ve coupling means from said threaded shaft.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,658,210 11/1953 Travis 5-68 3,036,314 5/1962 Wetzler 5-63 3,059,248 10/ 1962 Wetzler 5 63 3,191,196 6/1965 Holm 5-68 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

20 CASMIR A. NUN-BERG, ExaJmner.

Claims

1. AN ADJUSTABLE BED COMPRISING: (A) A SUPPORT FRAME; (B) A MOVABLE FRAME MOVABLE VERTICALLY RELATIVE TO SAID SUPPORT FRAME; (C) MEANS FOR MOVING SAID MOVABLE FRAME UPWARD AND DOWNWARD; (D) A MATTRESS SUPPORT MEMBER MOVABLE WITH SAID MOVABLE FRAME AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF PANELS PIVOTALLY LINKED TOGETHER; (E) A FIRST EXTENDABLE TELESCOPING ASSEMBLY HAVING ONE END THEREOF PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID SUPPORT FRAME AND THE OTHER END THEREOF COUPLED TO SAID MOVABLE FRAME AND TO SAID MATTRESS SUPPORT MEMBER; (F) A SECOND EXTENDABLE TELESCOPING ASSEMBLY HAVING ONE END THEREOF PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID SUPPORT FRAME AND THE OTHER END THEREOF COUPLED TO SAID MATTRESS SUPPORT MEMBER; (G) MEANS FOR LOCKING SAID EXTENDABLE TELESCOPING ASSEMBLIES IN THEIR EXTENDED POSITIONS SAID TELESCOPIC ASSEMBLIES BEING LOCATED ABOVE THE LOWER LEVEL OF THE BED WHEN IN INOPERATIVE POSITION.