TEPZZ _ 7455A_T EP A1 (19) (11) EP A1 (12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

Transcription

1 (19) TEPZZ _ 7455A_T (11) EP A1 (12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION (43) Date of publication: Bulletin 2017/06 (21) Application number: (51) Int Cl.: A47C 19/00 ( ) A47C 17/64 ( ) A47C 19/20 ( ) (22) Date of filing: (84) Designated Contracting States: AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR Designated Extension States: BA ME Designated Validation States: MA MD (30) Priority: US (71) Applicant: Disc-O-Bed Holdings Limited 3030 Limassol (CY) (72) Inventor: BONATZ, Richard 1748 Lanseria (ZA) (74) Representative: Evens, Paul Jonathan et al Maguire Boss 24 East Street St. Ives, Cambridgeshire PE27 5PD (GB) (54) BUNK BED ASSEMBLY (57) A portable readily assembled and dismantled bunk bed 10 has flexible bed support members 22A, 22B with integral flexible head and foot and vertically disposed members 40 that disconnectably engaged and hold the flexible bed support 22A, 22B to a horizontal frame member 17 and provide end members that prevent a child from sliding through the frame members. EP A1 Printed by Jouve, PARIS (FR)

2 1 EP A1 2 Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of Use of the Invention [0001] This invention relates to a portable bed assembly. This invention specifically relates to components for a bed assembly particularly including a headrest end support. This invention further relates to a portable assembly for a double-decker bed having a headrest end support construction. Background and Discussion of the Prior Art [0002] Portable bunk bed assemblies are disclosed in US 7,797,772, US 7,921,483, US 8,356,369, and US D600,469 to Bonatz, the inventor herein, which patents are incorporated herein in their entireties by reference thereto. [0003] Bunk beds with rigid fixedly disposed end constructions are disclosed in US 4,555,821 to Page, US Publ. 2004/ to McDonnell and US Publ. 2005/ to Roger. [0004] The immediately aforesaid constructions do not provide or otherwise are not suitable as headrests and protective end supports for children, and are costly to manufacture and assemble. [0005] The art desires a bunk bed headrest and protective end support that is particularly suitable for and safe for use by children, that is readily manufactured, and readily assembled and disassembled. [0006] The present invention provides a solution to these art needs. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bunk beds showing the present invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lower bunk bed showing the present invention; FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the upper bunk bed showing the present invention; FIG. 4 is an end view of the lower bed frame; FIG. 5 is an end view of the upper bed frame; FIG. 6 is a plan view of one side of the mat and headrest of the present invention; FIG. 7 is a plan view of the other side of the mat and headrest as shown in FIG. 6; and FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the assembly of the headrest as shown in FIGS. 6-7, on the upper bunk end frame as show in FIG. 5. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] The present invention is a portable bed head end assembly, particularly for a double-decker or bunk beds. The bunk beds have a flexible cot or mat material that integrally includes a readily assembled and disassembled headrest or protective end piece. The flexible mat headrest construction protects and encloses a child when sleeping on the upper or lower bed. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0009] The bunk bed assembly, particularly the disc and metal elongate support and frame assembly members, as shown in the FIGS., may be those as shown and described in US 7,921,483, issued April 12, 2011 and US 8,356,369, issued January 22, 2013 to Bonatz, the herein inventor, which references are incorporated herein in their entireties by reference thereto. [0010] Referring to the FIGS., there is shown the double-decker bed or bed assembly 10 of the present invention. Bed 10 includes an upper bed or cot 11 and a lower bed or cot 12. The bed construction in general includes eight assembly discs 13, four tubular assembly side members or assemblies 14 (typical), two upper bed tubular head or foot assemblies 15, and two lower head or foot assemblies 16, two horizontally disposed cross members or supports 17, two vertically disposed integrating connecting straps 18, and two canvas or like flexible material bed support pieces 22A and 22B. [0011] Referring to the FIGS., there is shown the lower bed or cot 12 in the single bed disposition. Bed 12 has four assembly discs 13 and two tubular foot assemblies 16 and two tubular frame assemblies 14 interconnected with flexible material or canvas bed support piece 22A to in general from the assembled single lower bed 12. [0012] Referring to the FIGS., there is shown upper bed or cot 11 in the single bed disposition. Bed 11 has four assembly discs 13, two tubular assemblies 15, two tubular frame assemblies 14 with flexible material or canvas bed support piece 22B to in general form the assembled single upper bed 11. [0013] In the afore-discussed construction, two essentially uniform construction carrying cases may be provided to effectively stow all the components for assembling the double-decker bed or two separate single beds. Canvas bed supports 22A and B may also be like or separately transported or provided. The canvas bed supports may need to be periodically washed or replaced with extended use. [0014] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 6-8, there is shown canvas bed support members 22A and 22B. Bed support members 22A and 23B may be a one-piece construction with side portions 25 (typical) enclosed by stitching 27 (typical) for slidably receiving metal tubular supports 14 (typical). The head or foot ends of each bed support member is formed with two spaced flaps 26 (typical). Each flap has cooperatively engaging Velcro elements 30a and 30b, for purposes hereinafter appearing. The spaced flaps 26 form a slot 31 (typical) for slidably accommodating vertical straps 18 (FIGS. 1 and 8). The 2

3 3 EP A1 4 slot end portions may be contoured at 35, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 8. Referring to the FIGS., there is shown Velcro elements 30a and 30b disconnectably connected so as to be connected around horizontal frame member 17. In the aforesaid manner of construction vertically disposed end portions 40 (typical) are provided at the head and foot ends of the upper and lower beds. The end portions 40 prevent a child from sliding through the frame and falling off the bed. The Velcro elements 30a and 30b are disposed on the outside of the bed and may not be readily tampered with or disengaged by a child sleeping in the upper or lower bed. Vertically disposed end support 40 is curved or contoured as at 45 for headrest comfort. [0015] In the afore-described construction, a doubledecker bed or two separate single beds can be readily assembled and disassembled. While the foregoing describes a construction assembly for one double-decker bed or two single beds, it is within the contemplation of the present invention to provide further expanded construction assemblies such as for a triple-decker bed. [0016] The foregoing description is intended to be merely illustrative and not limiting of the invention, which invention is defined by the adjoined claims. Whilst Velcro elements have been described, it is understood that other "hook and loop" type fastenings may be used. Claims 1. A portable bed assembly comprising: a first bed comprising a frame construction having at least one of a head frame and foot frame, and a flexible bed support comprising end portions and means for disconnectably connecting at least one of the bed support end portions to the respective head or foot frame, wherein the end portions are vertically disposed. 2. The portable bed assembly of claim 1, further comprising a second bed, each said bed comprises a frame construction having head and foot frame, and such said bed comprises the flexible bed support comprising the end portions and the means for disconnectably connecting the bed support end portion to the respective head and foot frame. 3. The portable bed assembly of claim 1, wherein the end support is connected frame support end is vertically disposed to provide a headrest and protective end piece to prevent an occupant from sliding through the head or foot end of the bed. 4. The portable bed assembly of claim 3, said means for disconnectably connecting the bed support end portions comprise Velcro disposed at the end of the end portions flexible material The portable bed assembly of claim 4, wherein each end portion comprises a flexible fabric. 6. The portable bed assembly of claim 5, wherein the end portion flexible fabric and the flexible bed support are a one-piece construction. 7. The portable bed assembly of claim 6, wherein the end portion fabric and the bed support consist of the same material. 8. The portable bed assembly of claim 1, wherein the end portion comprises two spacedly disposed flaps. 9. A double-decker bed comprising a plurality of discs and elongate bed frame members interfitted with the discs to form an upper bed and a lower bed, each said disc comprises a cylindrical body comprising a central hole having an axis and further comprising a peripheral concave surface for receiving two vertically disposed frame members comprising an upper horizontal frame member and a lower horizontal frame member disposed in respective upper and lower portions of the respective peripheral concave surfaces of the discs, each said disc comprises a plurality of ribs extending outwardly between the central hole and the peripheral surface, a portable bed assembly comprising: a first bed comprising a frame construction having at least one of a head frame and foot frame, and a flexible bed support comprising end portions and means for disconnectably connecting at least one of the bed support end portions to the respective head or foot frame, wherein the end portions are vertically disposed; and a second bed comprising a frame construction having at least one of a head frame and foot frame, and a flexible bed support comprising end portions and means for disconnectably connecting at least one of the bed support end portions to the respective head or foot frame, wherein the end portions are vertically disposed. 10. The double-decker bed of claim 9, said means for disconnectably connecting the bed support end portions comprise Velcro disposed at the end of the end portions flexible material 11. The double-decker bed of claim 9, wherein each end portion comprises a flexible fabric. 12. The double-decker bed of claim 9, wherein the vertically disposed end portion and the flexible horizontally disposed bed support portion are a one-piece construction, and provide a contoured transitional surface between the vertically disposed and horizontally disposed portions. 3

4 5 EP A The double-decker bed of claim 12, wherein the end portion fabric and the bed support consist of the same material. 14. The double-decker bed of claim 9, wherein the end portion comprises two spacedly disposed flexible material flaps, each flap comprises at least two Velcro elements, and each flap encompasses the horizontal frame member for each respective bed. 15. The portable bed assembly of claim 8 or the doubledecker bed of claim 14, wherein each flap comprises a plurality of Velcro elements comprising said means for disconnectedly connecting one end portion to the bed and support end portions to the respective head and foot frame

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13 REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader s convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard. Patent documents cited in the description US B [0002] US B [0002] [0009] US B [0002] [0009] US D S, Bonatz [0002] US A, Page [0003] US A, McDonnell [0003] US A, Roger [0003] 13