Foldable Bed

This application claims priority to Taiwanese Utility Model patent application No. 113202809, filed on Mar. 21, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

The disclosure relates to a bed, and more particularly to a foldable bed.

A conventional electric bed, as disclosed in Taiwanese Invention Patent Number I824,888, is operable to lift a user's back by an actuator device (e.g., an electric actuator) that drives oblique and upward movement of a backrest unit.

When a user lies on the conventional electric bed, the backrest unit is subjected to most of the weight of the user. To increase an included angle between the backrest unit and the actuator device, the actuator device has to be mounted to an extension portion protruding downwardly from a bed frame of the conventional electric bed, so that the backrest unit would be effectively driven by the actuator device. For online sales or offline sales, in order to conveniently transport the conventional electric bed and reduce the transport cost thereof, the conventional electric bed is designed to be foldable. However, when the conventional electric bed is folded, an overall height thereof is adversely affected by the extension portion protruding downwardly from the bed frame, which in turn affects a dimension of the conventional electric bed to be transported. As a result, the transport cost of the conventional electric bed is unlikely to be reduced.

Therefore, an object of the disclosure is to provide a foldable bed that can alleviate at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art.

According to the disclosure, the foldable bed includes a support unit, a bed frame unit, and a driving unit.

The bed frame unit is disposed on the support unit and includes a first bed frame subunit and a second bed frame subunit connected to the first bed frame subunit. The second bed frame subunit is pivotable relative to the first bed frame subunit to fold the bed frame unit from a bed flat state, where the first bed frame subunit and the second bed frame subunit are arranged in a lengthwise direction, to a bed folded state, where the first bed frame subunit is stacked on top of the second bed frame subunit. The first bed frame subunit includes a first bed frame that is connected to the support unit, and a backrest frame that is pivotable relative to the first bed frame.

The driving unit includes a backrest actuating mechanism connected to the first bed frame subunit. The backrest actuating mechanism includes a backrest connecting member and a backrest driving assembly. The backrest connecting member has a pivotal end that is pivotally connected to the first bed frame, and a connecting end that is opposite to the pivotal end. The backrest driving assembly is pivotally connected between the backrest frame and the connecting end of the backrest connecting member. The backrest driving assembly is operable for driving the backrest frame to pivot relative to the first bed frame.

When the bed frame unit is in the bed flat state, the backrest actuating mechanism is operable to convert between a usage state, where a weight of the backrest driving assembly drives the connecting end of the backrest connecting member to pivot downwardly away from the first bed frame, and where the backrest driving assembly and the backrest frame cooperatively define a usage angle, and a storage state, where the connecting end of the backrest connecting member is pivoted to be adjacent to the first bed frame to move the backrest driving assembly closer to the backrest frame, and where the backrest driving assembly and the backrest frame cooperatively define a storage angle smaller than the usage angle.

Before the disclosure is described in greater detail, it should be noted that where considered appropriate, reference numerals or terminal portions of reference numerals have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements, which may optionally have similar characteristics.

It should be noted herein that for clarity of description, spatially relative terms such as “top,” “bottom,” “upper,” “lower,” “on,” “above,” “over,” “downwardly,” “upwardly” and the like may be used throughout the disclosure while making reference to the features as illustrated in the drawings. The features may be oriented differently (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative terms used herein may be interpreted accordingly.

Referring to, an embodiment of a foldable bed according to the disclosure includes a support unit, a bed frame unit, and a driving unit.

The support unitincludes a plurality of outer bed legsand a plurality of intermediate bed legs. In this embodiment, the number of the outer bed legsis four, and the number of the intermediate bed legsis two. However, the number of the outer bed legsand the number of the intermediate bed legsare not limited hereto.

Referring toin combination with, the bed frame unitis disposed on the support unitand includes a first bed frame subunitand a second bed frame subunitbeing connected to the first bed frame subunit. The second bed frame subunitis pivotable relative to the first bed frame subunitto fold the bed frame unitfrom a bed flat state (as shown in), where the first bed frame subunitand the second bed frame subunitare arranged in a lengthwise direction (Y), to a bed folded state (as shown in), where the first bed frame subunitis stacked on top of the second bed frame subunit.

The first bed frame subunitis switchable between a lying state (as shown in) and a supporting state (as shown in), and includes a first bed framethat is disposed on the support unit, a first fixing framethat is mounted to the first bed frame, and a backrest framethat is pivotable relative to the first bed frame. In this embodiment, the first bed framehas a first frame bodyand a first fixed seatmounted to the first frame body. The backrest frameand the first fixing frameare arranged in the lengthwise direction (Y). The backrest frameis connected to the first fixing frame, and is pivotable relative to the first fixing frameand the first bed frame. The backrest framehas a backrest frame bodyand a first pivot seatmounted to the backrest frame body.

The second bed frame subunitincludes a second bed framethat is disposed on the support unitand that is pivotally connected to the first bed frame subunit, a second fixing framethat is mounted to the second bed frame, a leg framethat is pivotally connected to the second fixing frame, and a foot framethat is pivotally connected to the leg frameand that is opposite to the second fixing frame. In this embodiment, when the bed frame unitis in the bed flat state, the second bed frame subunitis switchable between a flat state (as shown in), where the second fixing frame, the leg frame, and the foot frameare flat and arranged in the lengthwise direction (Y), and a bent state (as shown in), where the leg frameis pivoted upwardly relative to the second fixing frame. The second bed framehas a second frame bodyand a second fixed seatmounted to the second frame body. The foot framehas a foot frame bodyand a second pivot seatmounted to the foot frame body.

As shown in, two outer bed legsare respectively and detachably mounted to two corners of the first bed framedistal from the second bed frame, and the other two outer bed legsare respectively and detachably mounted to two corners of the second bed framedistal from the first bed frame. The two intermediate bed legsare respectively and detachably mounted to the first bed frameand the second bed frame, and are spaced apart from each other in a widthwise direction (X) perpendicular to the lengthwise direction (Y). The two intermediate bed legsare misaligned from each other in the widthwise direction (X).

As shown in, because the second bed frame subunitis pivotable relative to the first bed frame subunit, when the outer bed legsand the intermediate bed legsare detached from the first bed frame subunitand the second bed frame subunit, the second bed frame subunitand the first bed frame subunitare allowed to be stacked on one another.

The driving unitincludes a backrest actuating mechanismthat is connected to the first bed frame subunit, and a leg frame actuating mechanismthat is connected to the second bed frame subunit.

Referring toin combination with, the backrest actuating mechanismis operable to drive the backrest frameso that the first bed frame subunitis switchable between the lying state (as shown in) and the supporting state (as shown in). In, for clarity, only the backrest actuating mechanism, the first fixed seat, and the first pivot seatare shown in solid lines while the remaining components are shown in phantom lines.

As shown in, the backrest actuating mechanismincludes a backrest connecting memberand a backrest driving assembly.

The backrest connecting memberhas a pivotal endthat is pivotally connected to the first fixed seatof the first bed frame, a connecting endthat is opposite to the pivotal end, and an abutting portionthat is adjacent to the pivotal end. The backrest connecting memberis concave with a middle portion thereof being away from the first bed frame.

The backrest driving assemblyis pivotally connected between the backrest frameand the connecting endof the backrest connecting member. The backrest driving assemblyis operable for driving the backrest frameto pivot relative to the first bed frame, thereby switching the first bed frame subunitfrom the lying state to the supporting state. The backrest driving assemblyincludes a backrest drive motorthat is pivotally connected to the connecting endof the backrest connecting member, and a backrest drive rodthat telescopically extends from the backrest drive motorand that is pivotally connected to the first pivot seatof the backrest frame. The backrest driving assemblyhas a gravity center that is located adjacent to the connecting endof the backrest connecting member. For example, the backrest drive motoris disposed closer to the connecting endof the backrest connecting memberthan the backrest drive rod.

When the bed frame unitis in the bed flat state, the backrest actuating mechanismis operable to convert between a usage state (as shown in), where a weight of the backrest driving assemblydrives the connecting endof the backrest connecting memberto pivot downwardly away from the first bed frame, and where the backrest driving assemblyand the backrest framecooperatively define a usage angle (θ), and a storage state (as shown in), where the connecting endof the backrest connecting memberis pivoted to be adjacent to the first bed frameso as to move the backrest driving assemblyto be closer to the backrest frame, and where the backrest driving assemblyand the backrest framecooperatively define a storage angle (θ) smaller than the usage angle (θ). In, for clarity, only the backrest actuating mechanism, the first fixed seat, and the first pivot seatare shown in solid lines, and the remaining components are shown in phantom lines.

As shown in, when the bed frame unitis in the bed flat state and the backrest actuating mechanismis in the usage state, the abutting portionof the backrest connecting memberabuts against the first bed frameto limit downward pivoting movement of the connecting endof the backrest connecting memberaway from the first bed frame, thereby supporting the backrest driving assemblyto drive pivoting movement of the backrest framerelative to the first bed frame. To convert the backrest actuating mechanismfrom the usage state to the storage state, the backrest driving assemblyis lifted to drive upward pivoting movement of the connecting endof the backrest connecting membertoward the first bed frame, thereby moving the abutting portionof the backrest connecting memberaway from the first bed frame. As shown in, when the backrest actuating mechanismis in the storage state, the abutting portionof the backrest connecting memberis away from the first bed frame, and the backrest driving assemblyis moved closer to the backrest framesuch that the storage angle (θ) is smaller than the usage angle (θ).

As shown in, the leg frame actuating mechanismincludes a leg frame driving assemblythat is pivotally connected between the second bed frameand the foot frame. When the bed frame unitis in the bed flat state, the leg frame driving assemblyis operable to lift the foot frame, thereby driving the leg frameto pivot upwardly relative to the second fixing frame, and switching the second bed frame subunitfrom the flat state (as shown in) to the bent state (as shown in). The leg frame driving assemblyincludes a lifting leg motorthat is pivotally connected to the second fixed seat, and a lifting leg rodthat telescopically extends from the lifting leg motorand that is pivotally connected to the second pivot seat.

As shown in, in use, the bed frame unitis transformable between the bed flat state (as shown in) and the bed folded state (as shown in). When the bed frame unitis in the bed flat state, the first bed frame subunitis flexibly switchable between the lying state and the supporting state, and the second bed frame subunitis flexibly switchable between the flat state and the bent state. When the bed frame unitis in the bed folded state, the outer bed legsand the intermediate bed legsare detached from the first bed frame subunitand the second bed frame subunit, so that the first bed frame subunitand the second bed frame subunitare stacked on one another and the backrest actuating mechanismis converted to the storage state.

As shown in, when the bed frame unitis in the bed flat state and the backrest actuating mechanismis in the usage state, due to a weight of the backrest drive motor, the connecting endof the backrest connecting memberis driven to pivot downwardly away from the first bed frame in. As a result, the backrest actuating mechanismprotrudes outwardly from the first bed framein a top-bottom direction (Z) perpendicular to the lengthwise direction (Y) and has a usage height (H) in the top-bottom direction (Z) greater than a storage height (H) of the backrest actuating mechanismin the storage state (as shown in), such that the usage angle (θ) defined between the backrest driving assemblyand the backrest frame, for example, may be greater than 20 degrees, and the backrest driving assemblymay effectively drive pivoting movement of the backrest framerelative to the first bed frame.

As shown in, when the bed frame unitis in the bed folded state, and the backrest actuating mechanismis converted to the storage state, because the connecting endof the backrest connecting memberis pivoted to be adjacent to the first bed frameto move the backrest driving assemblycloser to the backrest frame, the storage angle (θ) defined by the backrest driving assemblyand the backrest frameis smaller than the usage angle (θ) and may be, for example, smaller than 5 degrees. Thus, when the backrest actuating mechanismis in the storage state, the backrest actuating mechanismhas the storage height (H) that is smaller than the usage height (H) and that significantly reduces in the top-bottom direction (Z). As a result, when the bed frame unitis in the bed folded state and the backrest actuating mechanismis in the storage state, the backrest actuating mechanismis disposed within a space defined by the first bed frame subunitand the second bed frame subunit, such that the storage height (H) of the backrest actuating mechanismis limited between the first bed frame subunitand the second bed frame subunit, thereby effectively reducing an overall height of the foldable bed in the top-bottom direction (Z).

The foldable bed of the disclosure has the following advantages.

1. Because the backrest connecting memberis pivotally connected to the first bed frame, and because the backrest driving assemblyis pivotally connected between the backrest frameand the backrest connecting member, when the bed frame unitis in the bed flat state and the backrest actuating mechanismis in the usage state, the weight of the backrest driving assemblydrives downward movement of the backrest driving assembly, such that the usage angle (θ) defined by the backrest driving assemblyand the backrest frameis enlarged to facilitate the backrest driving assemblyto drive pivoting movement of the backrest framerelative to the first bed frame. When the bed frame unitis in the bed folded state and the backrest actuating mechanismis in the storage state, by virtue of the backrest driving assemblybeing moved closer to the backrest frame, the storage angle (θ) defined by the backrest driving assemblyand the backrest frameis reduced, and the storage height (H) of the backrest actuating mechanismis effectively reduced. As a result, a dimension of the foldable bed may be effectively decreased to lower the transport cost, which is beneficial to network-based sale of the foldable bed.

2. By virtue of the backrest connecting memberbeing designed to be concave, the backrest connecting membermay be prevented from interfering with other components when the backrest actuating mechanismis in the storage state, and the backrest connecting membermay be prevented from interfering with backrest drive motorwhen the backrest actuating mechanismis in the usage state.

3. By virtue of the gravity center of the backrest driving assemblybeing located adjacent to the connecting endof the backrest connecting member, the weight of the backrest driving assemblymay effectively drive the connecting endof the backrest connecting memberto pivot downwardly away from the first bed frame.

4. When the bed frame unitis in the bed flat state and the backrest actuating mechanismis in the usage state, abutment of the abutting portionof the backrest connecting memberagainst the first bed framelimits downward pivoting movement of the connecting endof the backrest connecting memberaway from the first bed frame, thereby supporting the backrest driving assemblyto drive the pivoting movement of the backrest framerelative to the first bed frame.

5. When the bed frame unitis in the bed folded state and the backrest actuating mechanismis in the storage state, because the backrest actuating mechanismis disposed within a space defined by the first bed frame subunitand the second bed frame subunit, the storage height (H) of the backrest actuating mechanismis limited between the first bed frame subunitand the second bed frame subunitso as to reduce the dimension of the foldable bed, thereby lowering the transport cost.

In the description above, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details have been set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiment(s). It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that one or more other embodiments may be practiced without some of these specific details. It should also be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” an embodiment with an indication of an ordinal number and so forth means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic may be included in the practice of the disclosure. It should be further appreciated that in the description, various features are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of various inventive aspects; such does not mean that every one of these features needs to be practiced with the presence of all the other features. In other words, in any described embodiment, when implementation of one or more features or specific details does not affect implementation of another one or more features or specific details, said one or more features may be singled out and practiced alone without said another one or more features or specific details. It should be further noted that one or more features or specific details from one embodiment may be practiced together with one or more features or specific details from another embodiment, where appropriate, in the practice of the disclosure.

While the disclosure has been described in connection with what is (are) considered the exemplary embodiment(s), it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiment(s) but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.