Bed Step Device and Method

• US 20130111663A1
• Filed: 11/09/2011
• Published: 05/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Timothy Brown
• Original Assignee: Timothy Brown
• Inventors: Brown, Timothy
• Granted Patent: US 9,055,824 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 5/507.1
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/035 Devices for use in keeping domestic animals, e.g. fittings in housings or dog beds
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 21/00 Attachments for beds, e.g. sheet holders, bed-cover holders bed tables supported on the bedstead A47B23/02; for children's beds A47D7/00, A47D15/00; Ventilating, cooling or heating means in connection with bedsteads or mattresses
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A bed step device is provided for assisting a human or pet in climbing into and/or out of a bed. The device includes a base, at least one step attached to the base, and a retention member attached to the base. The retention member is configured to be disposed and retained between opposed surfaces of a bed, typically either the opposed surfaces of a mattress and a box spring or those of a box spring and a bed frame. The disposition of the retention member between the opposed surfaces results in a retention force, typically a friction force, to resist sliding movement of the device across a floor surface on which the device is supported. The retention member may be a rigid panel or a flexible sheet. The base and step or steps may comprise a folding staircase linkage or a rigid, unitary housing including a storage compartment.

Claims

1. A portable bed step device for assisting a human or pet in climbing into a bed, comprising:

a base configured to be supported on a generally horizontal floor surface;

at least one step connected to the base, the step including a generally horizontal support surface configured to be elevated above the generally horizontal floor surface when the base is supported thereon; and

a thin, elongate retention member connected to the base;

the thin retention member adapted to be disposed and retained between opposed surfaces of the bed, when the device is in a use position adjacent to the bed, to resist movement of the device away from the use position.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a storage compartment disposed in the base and below the support surface.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a linkage movably connecting the support surface to the base,

the linkage adapted to permit movement of the support surface to a range of positions at a range of heights above a floor surface on which the base is supported, while constraining the support surface to remain generally parallel to the floor surface.

4. The device of claim 3, the linkage comprising at least two substantially parallel side links pivotally connected to the base and to the support surface, the substantially parallel side links having substantially parallel, spaced apart pivotal axes.

5. The device of claim 3, comprising a second support surface connected to the first support surface by a second linkage, the second linkage adapted to permit movement of the second support surface to a range of positions at a range of heights above the first support surface, while constraining the second support surface to remain generally parallel to the first support surface.

6. The device of claim 1, the retention member comprising a generally horizontally disposed, thin, rigid panel configured to be disposed and retained between opposed surfaces of a mattress and a box spring.

7. The device of claim 6, the thin rigid panel being horizontally slidingly connected to the base, for movement to and from an extended position and a retracted position relative to the base, the thin rigid panel being configured to be disposed and retained between the opposed surfaces when in the extended position, and the device being generally more compact when the thin rigid panel is in the retracted position.

8. The device of claim 7, comprising a plurality of the thin rigid panels horizontally slidingly connected to the base, the plurality of thin rigid panels being spaced apart vertically from one another.

9. The device of claim 6, the thin rigid panel being vertically slidingly connected to the base for adjustment of the height of the thin rigid panel to the height of the opposed surfaces for disposing and retaining the thin rigid panel between the opposed surfaces.

10. The device of claim 6, the thin rigid panel being pivotally connected to the base for movement to and from a folded storage position and an unfolded use position for retention of the thin rigid panel between the opposed surfaces.

11. The device of claim 1, the retention member comprising a flexible sheet attached to the base.

12. The device of claim 11, further comprising a rod attached to an end of the flexible sheet opposite an end of the flexible sheet connected to the base, configured for rolling the flexible sheet onto the rod.

13. The device of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of transverse ribs attached to the flexible sheet in a longitudinally spaced-apart relationship.

14. The device of claim 11, a proximal end of the flexible sheet being attached to the base, the flexible sheet being configured to be disposed and retained between opposed surfaces of a box spring and a bed frame, further comprising means for removably fastening a distal end of the flexible sheet extending from between the opposed surfaces to the base.

15. The device of claim 1, further comprising floor-contacting members extendably and retractably connected to the base to adjust the height of the base and the support surface relative to the generally horizontal floor surface.

16. The device of claim 1 further comprising floor grip members attached to the base and configured to directly contact a floor surface on which the base is supported, the floor grip members composed of a high-traction material to resist sliding of the grip members across the floor surface.

17. A method of assisting a human or pet in climbing into a bed, comprising:

providing a portable bed step device comprising

a base,

at least one step fixed to the base, the step including a generally horizontal support surface, and

a thin, elongate retention member connected to the base;

placing the device in a use position wherein the base is supported on a generally horizontal floor surface adjacent the bed, and the support surface is elevated above the floor surface and disposed below the level of the top of the bed, to permit a user to climb from the floor surface onto the support surface and from the support surface onto the bed; and

disposing and retaining the retention member between opposed surfaces of the bed to resist movement of the device away from the use position.

18. A method of making a portable bed step device for assisting a human or pet in climbing into a bed, comprising:

forming a base configured to be supported on a generally horizontal floor surface;

forming at least one step fixed to the base;

forming on the step a generally horizontal support surface configured to be elevated above the generally horizontal floor surface when the base is supported on the generally horizontal floor surface; and

forming a thin, elongate retention member connected to the base, the thin retention member adapted to be disposed and retained between opposed surfaces of the bed, when the device is in a use position adjacent to the bed, to resist movement of the device away from the use position.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising forming a storage compartment disposed below the support surface.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising mounting a sliding drawer in the storage compartment.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising attaching a door adjacent an opening of the storage compartment, the door configured to be opened for access to the storage compartment.

22. The method of claim 21, the door being comprised in a support surface of the at least one step, and the door being adapted to pivot open about a horizontal axis.