Adjustable bed frame assembly

• US 7,930,780 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2008
• Issued: 04/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ergomotion LLC
• Original Assignee: Alain Clenet
• Inventors: Clenet, Alain
• Primary Examiner(s): Santos; Robert G
• Assistant Examiner(s): POLITO, NICHOLAS F
• Application Number:
  US12/154,509
• Publication Number:
  US 20080276373A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 561/8, 572/2, 5249-251, 561/7, 561/3
• US Class Current: 5/618
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 20/041 by electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 20/08 with means for adjusting two or more rests simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 21/026 Pillow holders; Mattress holders
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/012 raising or lowering of the whole mattress frame A61G7/005, A61G7/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/015 divided into different adjustable sections, e.g. for Gatch position
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/018 Control or drive mechanisms

Abstract

A bed frame comprises a lower support structure having a head end and a foot end and a carriage arranged for translational movement on the lower support structure. An upper support structure is mounted on the carriage. The upper support structure includes a seat and an upper body support section pivotally connected thereto. A support arm is pivotally connected between the lower support structure and the upper body support section. An actuator is connected to the lower support structure. A lever arm is connected between the actuator and the carriage. Application of force from the actuator to the lever arm moves the carriage on the lower support structure while applying a lifting moment to the upper body support section. The support arm is arranged such that movement of the carriage toward the head end of the lower support structure also produces a lifting moment on the upper body support section.

Claims

1. An articulated bed assembly, comprising:

a lower support structure having a head end and a foot end with a pair of lengthwise side rails;

a carriage having a plurality of legs extending from a platform, said legs including rollers arranged to roll on said side rails for translational movement on the lower support structure;

an upper support structure including

a seat section, said seat mounted on the carriage so as to be movable therewith,

an upper body support section having an edge pivotally connected to the seat section,

a thigh support section pivotally connected to the carriage;

a lower leg support section pivotally connected to the thigh support section; and

retainer means for restraining the foot end of the upper support structure against translational movement toward the head end so that translational movement of the seat portion toward the head end causes the foot end of the bed flame to elevate;

a support arm having a first end pivotally connected to the lower support structure and a second end pivotally connected to the upper body support section;

an actuator connected to the lower support structure; and

a lever arm having a first end pivotally connected to the actuator and a second end rigidly connected to the upper body support structure adjacent where the edge thereof is pivotally connected to the seat section, the actuator and lever arm being arranged such that application of force from the actuator to the first end of the lever arm provides a motive force for moving the carriage and the upper support structure on the lower support structure while also producing a first lifting moment on the upper body support section, the support arm being arranged such that movement of the carriage toward the head end of the lower support structure produces a second lifting moment on the upper body support section, the first and second lifting moments cooperating to pivot the upper body support section about its connection point to the seat.

2. The articulated bed assembly of claim 1 wherein the retainer means includes a bracket attached to the thigh support and a detent attached to the lower support structure such that pressure between the bracket and the detent lifts the thigh and foot support sections.

3. An articulated bed assembly comprising:

a lower support structure having a head end and a foot end;

a carriage arranged for translational movement on the lower support structure;

an upper support structure including a seat section and an upper body support section having an edge pivotally connected to the seat, said seat mounted on the carriage so as to be movable therewith, a thigh support section pivotally connected to the carriage, a lower leg support section pivotally connected to the thigh support section, and retainer means for restraining the foot end of the upper support structure against translational movement toward the head end so that translational movement of the seat portion toward the head end causes the foot end of the bed frame to elevate, the retainer means including a bracket attached to the thigh support and a detent attached to the lower support structure such that pressure between the bracket and the detent lifts the thigh and foot support sections and a first bracket connected to the thigh support section, a second bracket connected to the lower support section and a cable connected between the first and second brackets so that tension in the cable lifts the thigh and foot support sections

a support arm having a first end pivotally connected to the lower support structure and a second end pivotally connected to the upper body support section;

an actuator connected to the lower support structure; and

a lever arm having a first end pivotally connected to the actuator and a second end rigidly connected to the upper body support structure adjacent where the edge thereof is pivotally connected to the seat section, the actuator and lever arm being arranged such that application of force from the actuator to the first end of the lever arm provides a motive force for moving the carriage and the upper support structure on the lower support structure while also producing a first lifting moment on the upper body support section, the support arm being arranged such that movement of the carriage toward the head end of the lower support structure produces a second lifting moment on the upper body support section, the first and second lifting moments cooperating to pivot the upper body support section about its connection point to the seat.

4. An articulated bed comprising:

a lower support structure having a head end and a foot end;

a carriage arranged for translational movement on the lower support structure;

an upper support structure including a seat section and an upper body support section having an edge pivotally connected to the seat, said seat mounted on the carriage so as to be movable therewith, a thigh support section pivotally connected to the carriage, a lower leg support section pivotally connected to the thigh support section, and retainer means for restraining the foot end of the upper support structure against translational movement toward the head end so that translational movement of the seat portion toward the head end causes the foot end of the bed frame to elevate;

a support arm having a first end pivotally connected to the lower support structure and a second end pivotally connected to the upper body support section;

an actuator connected to the lower support structure; and

a lever arm having a first end pivotally connected to the actuator and a second end rigidly connected to the upper body support structure adjacent where the edge thereof is pivotally connected to the seat section, the actuator and lever arm being arranged such that application of force from the actuator to the first end of the lever arm provides a motive force for moving the carriage and the upper support structure on the lower support structure while also producing a first lifting moment on the upper body support section, the support arm being arranged such that movement of the carriage toward the head end of the lower support structure produces a second lifting moment on the upper body support section, the first and second lifting moments cooperating to pivot the upper body support section about its connection point to the seat;

a mattress;

a pair of first rigid plates adhesively fastened in spaced relation to a lower side portion of the mattress, each first plate having a first passage therethrough;

a bushing mounted in the first passage and having a flange portion that is connected to each plate;

a rod having a first end connected to the bushing;

a pair of second rigid plates connected to the seat section and lower leg support section and each having a second passage therethrough with the rod having a second end extending through the second passage; and

a retainer structure connected to the second end of the rod to connect the first and second plates securely together and thereby retain the mattress in a selected position on the seat section and lower leg support section.

5. The articulated bed frame assembly of claim 4, further comprising a fabric layer adhesively connected to cover the lower side of the mattress and the pair of first plates.

6. The articulated bed frame assembly of claim 5 wherein the retainer structure comprises:

a grommet mounted in the second passage and connected to the second plate;

a nut threadedly engaged with the second end of the rod to fasten the second plate to the rod and thereby connect the first and second plates together.

7. An articulated bed frame assembly, comprising:

a lower support structure having a head end and a foot end;

a carriage arranged for translational movement on the lower support structure;

an upper support structure mounted on the carriage so as to be movable therewith, the upper support structure including a seat and an upper body support section pivotally connected to the seat;

a support arm having a first end pivotally connected to the lower support structure and a second end pivotally connected to the upper body support section;

an actuator connected to the lower support structure;

a lever arm having a first end connected to the actuator and a second end rigidly connected to the upper body support structure adjacent where the edge thereof is pivotally connected to the seat section, the actuator and lever arm being arranged such that application of force from the actuator to the first end of the lever arm provides a motive force for moving the carriage and the upper support structure on the lower support structure while also producing a first lifting moment on the upper body support section, the support arm being arranged such that movement of the carriage toward the head end of the lower support structure produces a second lifting moment on the upper body support section, the first and second lifting moments cooperating to pivot the upper body support section about its connection point to the seat;

the upper support structure also including a thigh support section pivotally connected to the carriage and a lower leg support section pivotally connected to the thigh support section and wherein a mattress retainer includes a pair of brackets mounted to the lower leg support section and a retainer bar that is demountably connected to the pair of brackets, the retainer bar having a central portion that extends upward from the lower leg support section when the bed frame is assembled for use, the retainer bar being mounted in the brackets with the central portion upside down to reduce the height of the bed frame when the bed frame is packaged for shipping; and

a retainer arranged to restrain the foot end of the upper support structure against translational movement toward the head end so that translational movement of the seat portion toward the head end causes the foot end of the bed frame to elevate, the retainer including a first bracket connected to the thigh support section, a second bracket connected to the lower support section and a cable connected between the first and second bracket so that tension in the cable lifts the thigh and foot support sections.