COLLAPSIBLE BED THAT OCCUPIES A RELATIVELY SMALL SPACE IN A COLLAPSED POSITION

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0001]The present invention relates to a collapsible bed and, more particularly, to a collapsible bed that occupies a relatively small space in a collapsed position.

RELATED PRIOR ART

[0002]An electric bed includes a frame. The frame is quite large if the electric bed is a single electric bed. The frame is even larger if the electric bed is a double bed. It is difficult to transport the electric bed along a narrow passage or around a corner no matter if the electric bed is a double bed or a single bed.

[0003]To solve the above-mentioned problem, collapsible beds have been devised. It is relatively easy to transport the collapsible beds in collapsed positions.

[0004]Referring to FIG. 6, a conventional collapsible frame 90 includes three sub-frames 91, 92 and 96 pivotally connected to one another. The sub-frame 96 is arranged between the sub-frames 91 and 92. A telescopic element 93 includes an end connected to a plate 94 attached to the sub-frame 91 and another end connected to a plate 95 attached to the sub-frame 96. The telescopic element 93 is operated to change the angle of the sub-frame 96 relative to the sub-frame 91. The sub-frames 91 and 92 are overlapped when the collapsible frame 90 is collapsed so that the collapsible frame 90 can inserted in a box for storage or transportation. However, the telescopic element 93 extends for a considerable length in a shrunk position so that the distance between the sub-frames 91 and 92 is large when the collapsible bed frame 90 is collapsed. Hence, the space that the collapsible frame 90 occupies is not small enough.

[0005]Therefore, the present invention is intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in the prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0006]It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide a collapsible bed that occupies a relatively small space in a collapsed position.

[0007]To achieve the foregoing objective, the collapsible bed includes a frame, a cylinder device, a pivot and a coupling plate. The frame includes three sub-frames pivotally connected to one another. The cylinder device is pivotally connected to the first sub-frame at an end. The pivot is connected to another end of the cylinder device. The coupling plate is connected to the second sub-frame. The coupling plate includes a slot. The slot receives the pivot so that the pivot is movable along the slot between two ends as the cylinder device extends and=retracts. The distance between the first and third sub-frames is longer when the pivot abuts against the first end of the slot than when the pivot abuts against the second end of the slot.

[0008]Other objectives, advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description referring to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0009]The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment referring to the drawings wherein:

[0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a frame of a collapsible bed according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0011]FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the frame shown in FIG. 1;

[0012]FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial side view of the frame shown in FIG. 1;

[0013]FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial view of the frame shown in FIG. 3;

[0014]FIG. 5 is a side view of the frame in another position than depicted in FIG. 3; and

[0015]FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial side view of a conventional collapsible frame of a bed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0016]Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, a collapsible bed 10 includes a frame 12 for supporting a matrix (not shown), a base 14 for supporting the frame 12, and two telescopic mechanisms 21 and 23 for adjusting the position of the frame 12 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0017]Preferably, the frame 12 includes sub-frames 20, 22, 24 and 26 pivotally connected to each other by hinges 28. In specific, an edge of the sub-frame 20 is pivotally connected to an edge of the sub-frame 22, another edge of the sub-frame 22 is pivotally connected to an edge of the sub-frame 24, another edge of the sub-frame 24 is connected to an edge of the sub-frame 26. The sub-frames 20, 22, 24 and 26 can be referred to as the “back sub-frame 20”, “waist sub-frame 22”, “thigh sub-frame 24” and “calf sub-frame 26.”

[0018]The base 14 includes struts 16 connected to the bottom of the frame 12 so that the struts 16 support the frame 12 on the floor. Each of the sub-frames 20, 22, 24 and 26 is pivotable relative to the base 14.

[0019]The telescopic mechanisms 21 and 23 are structurally identical to each other. The telescopic mechanism 21 is operable for pivoting the sub-frame 20. The rear telescopic mechanism 23 is operable for pivoting the sub-frame 24.

[0020]Referring to FIG. 3, the front telescopic mechanism 21 includes a cylinder device 30, a pivot 38, and two connecting plates 40 and 50. The cylinder device 30 can be, for example, an electric cylinder device, a hydraulic cylinder device or a pneumatic cylinder device.

[0021]The cylinder device 30 includes a rod 32 at an end and a lug 34 at another end. The cylinder device 30 further includes a wire 36 for connection to a power source operable to energize the cylinder device 30 to extend the rod 32 as indicated by an arrowhead 33, or to withdraw the rod 32. Therefore, the cylinder device 30 can be referred to as the “servo cylinder device” or “linear actuator.”

[0022]The connecting plate 50 is connected to the sub-frame 20 by welding for example. The lug 34 is pivotably connected to the connecting plate 50 through a pivot 51. Thus, the cylinder device 30 is pivotable relative to the sub-frame 20.

[0023]Referring to FIG. 4, the coupling plate 40 includes a fork-shaped portion 41 at an upper right corner and a hinged portion 43 at a lower left corner. The hinged portion 43 includes a slot 44.

[0024]The fork-shaped portion 41 receives a portion of the sub-frame 22, which is then connected to each other by welding, for example. A piece 52 is connected to a portion of the sub-frame 20 by welding for example. The piece 52 is located side by side with the fork-shaped portion 41. A pivot 53 is inserted into an aperture (not numbered) made in the piece 52 and an aperture 42 made in the fork-shaped portion 41 so that the sub-frame 20 is pivotable relative to the coupling plate 40. In other words, the coupling plate 40 spans the connection between the sub-frame 20 with the sub-frame 22.

[0025]The slot 44 includes an intermediate section 46 between two ends 45 and 47. The slot 44 is wider at the end 45 than at the end 47. Thus, the slot 44 resembles the shape of a “b.”

[0026]The pivot 38 includes a section (not numbered) inserted into the slot 44. The section of the pivot 38 is movable along the slot 44 between the ends 45 and 47 through the intermediate section 46.

[0027]The pivot 38 further extends through a washer 31 and a ring (not numbered) formed at or connected to an end of the rod 32. The pivot 38 includes a head (not numbered) at end and an orifice (not numbered) near another end. A pin (not numbered) is partially fitted in the orifice of the pivot 38. The diameter of the head of the pivot 38 is larger than an internal diameter of the washer 31. An external diameter of the washer 31 is greater than the width of the slot 44. Thus, the pivot 38 is kept on the coupling plate 40.

[0028]The cylinder device 30 extends longer as shown in FIG. 3 compared to FIG. 5. Referring to FIG. 3, the pivot 38 abuts against the end 45 of the slot 44. Referring to FIG. 5, the pivot 38 abuts against the end 47 of the slot 44.

[0029]Referring to FIG. 4, the distance between the end 45 of the slot 44 and an axis of the pivot 53 is longer than the distance between the end 47 of the slot 44 and the axis of the pivot 53.

[0030]Therefore, the distance between the axis of the pivot 38 and the axis of the pivot 53 is longer when the pivot 38 rests at the end 45 of the slot 44 than when the pivot 38 rests at the end 47 of the slot 44. Hence, the distance between the sub-frames 20 and 24 is longer when the pivot 38 abuts against the end 45 of the slot 44 than when the pivot 38 abuts against the end 47 of the slot 44. Accordingly, the collapsible bed 10 occupies a smaller space when the pivot 38 abuts against the end 47 of the slot 44 than when the pivot 38 abuts against the end 45 of the slot 44.

[0031]The present invention has been described via the illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present invention as defined in the claims.