Tilting furniture system and infinitely variable lift tensioning mechansim therefor

Abstract

A tension mechanism for use with existing conventional bed platforms in the well known Murphy bed system in which the bed platform may be connected to the tension mechanism when the tension is at a low level by only a single installer, and the tension thereafter increased in infinite increments to any desired level by a remotely operated tool, a combination of said tension mechanism and a bed platform, and a combination desk and bed in which the bed is operated by the tension mechanism.

1 . An infinitely variable tensioning mechanism for moving a load about a fixed swing axis, said tensioning mechanism including 
 a fixed base    a connector,    means for pivoting the connector about a common pivot axis located on the base and the connector,    first means on the connector for connecting a load to the connector so as to move with the connector,    spring means,    one end portion of said spring means engaging the fixed base,    the other end portion of said spring means being connected to a spring tensioning member which is movable with respect to the fixed base,    means for connecting the spring tensioning member to the connector about a second pivot axis on the connector, and    means for adjusting in infinite increments the distance between the spring tensioning member and the second pivot axis    whereby the tension of the spring means may be increased or decreased in consonance with variations in load on the connector.    
   
   
       2 . The tensioning mechanism of  claim 1  further characterized in that 
 the means for connecting the spring tensioning member to the connector is a threaded member,    one end of the threaded member being pivotally connected to the connector at the second pivot axis,    the other end of the threaded member being threadably received in a threaded passage on the spring tensioning member.    
   
   
       3 . The tensioning mechanism of  claim 2  further characterized by and including 
 a nut spatially fixed with respect to the spring tensioning member,    said nut being in threaded engagement with the threaded member and rotatable around the axis of the threaded member.    
   
   
       4 . The tensioning mechanism of  claim 3  further characterized in that 
 the spring means consists of a plurality of individual springs.    
   
   
       5 . The tensioning mechanism of  claim 4  further characterized in that 
 the connector includes    means for pivotally receiving a load on the connector and    means for locking the load to the connector    whereby pivotable movement of the locked together load and connector imparts an extending or contracting motion to the springs.    
   
   
       6 . A lift mechanism for moving a bed platform from a horizontal to a vertical position, and vice versa, said lift mechanism including 
 a base plate and means for fixedly connecting the base plate to a fixed support structure,    a yoke,    a plurality of springs, said springs having one end of each spring connected to the base plate and the other end of each spring connected to the yoke,    said yoke being movable with respect to the base plate and toward and away from the base plate    whereby tension in the springs will be decreased or increased,    a connecting arm pivotally connected to the base plate,    said connecting arm having locking mechanism for locking a bed platform to the connecting arm,    a yoke tensioning member pivotally connected at one end portion to the connecting arm and threadably connected to the yoke tensioning member at its other end portion, and    a nut axially fixed with respect to the yoke but rotatable with respect to the yoke about the axis of the threaded connection of the yoke tensioning member    whereby rotation of the nut causes movement of the yoke tensioning member toward and away from the pivotal connection of the yoke tensioning member to the connecting arm in infinite increments.    
   
   
       7 . A tilting bed system, said system including 
 a bed platform,    a left mechanism for tilting the bed platform about a rigid support structure, said lift mechanism including    a base fixed to the support structure    a connector,    means for pivoting the connector about a common pivot axis located on the base, and the connector,    first means on the connector for connecting a load to the connector so as to move with the connector,    spring means,    one end portion of said spring means engaging the fixed base,    the other end portion of said spring means being connected to a spring tensioning member which is movable with respect to the base,    means for connecting the spring tensioning member to the connector about a pivot axis on the connector, and    means for adjusting in infinite increments the distance between the spring tensioning member and the second pivot axis    whereby the tension of the spring means may be increased or decreased with consonance with variations in load on the connector.    
   
   
       8 . The tilting bed system of  claim 7   the means for connecting the spring tensioning member to the connector is a threaded member,    one end of the threaded member being pivotally connected to the connector at the second pivot axis,    the other end of the threaded member being threadably received in a threaded passage on the spring tensioning member.    
   
   
       9 . The tilting bed system of  claim 8   further characterized by and including a nut spatially fixed with respect to the spring tensioning member,    said nut being in threaded engagement with the threaded member and rotatable around the axis of the threaded member.    
   
   
       10 . The tilting bed system of  claim 9  further characterized in that 
 the spring means consists of a plurality of individual springs.    
   
   
       11 . The tilting bed system of  claim 10  further characterized in that 
 the connector includes    means for pivotally receiving a load on the connector and    means for locking the load to the connector,    whereby pivotable movement of the locked together load and connector imparts an extending or contracting motion to the springs.    
   
   
       12 . A tiltable bed and desk furniture system, said furniture system including 
 a rigid system support structure,    a bed platform,    a lift mechanism for connecting the bed platform to, and tilting the bed platform about, the rigid system support structure,    a desk,    linkage means pivotally connecting the support structure to the desk,    a desk support structure fixed to each end of the underside of the bed platform and depending downwardly therefrom,    the lower end portion of each of said downwardly depending desk support structures being pivotally connected to an associated end portion of the desk,    the pivotal connection of the lower end portion of each desk support structures to its associated end portion of the desk being located above    the pivotal connection of the linkage to the desk to thereby form a parallelogram linkage system.    
   
   
       13 . The tiltable bed and desk furniture system of  claim 12  further characterized in that 
 the desk has short upwardly extending side walls at each end thereof, and    the bottom of each of the downwardly depending support structures comes to rest in load bearing contact with the side walls of the desk when the bed platform is in a horizontal, in use position.    
   
   
       14 . The tiltable bed and desk furniture system of  claim 13  further characterized in that 
 the bottom of reach of the downwardly extending desk support structures is an elongated member which is in contact with the upper surface of its associated desk side wall whereby the load of the bed platform is transferred to an elongated area on each of the desk side walls.    
   
   
       15 . The tiltable bed and desk furniture system of  claim 12  further characterized in that 
 the lift mechanism includes    a connector,    means for pivoting the connector about a common pivot axis located on the rigid system support structure, and the connector,    first means on the connector for connecting a load to the connector so as to move with the connector,    spring means,    one end portion of said spring means engaging the fixed base,    the other end portion of said spring means being connected to a spring tensioning member which is movable with respect to the base,    means for connecting the spring tensioning member to the connector about a second pivot axis on the connector, and    means for adjusting in infinite increments the distance between the spring tensioning member and the second pivot axis    whereby the tension of the spring means may be increased or decreased in consonance with variations in load on the connector.    
   
   
       16 . The tiltable bed and desk furniture system of  claim 15  further characterized in that 
 the means for connecting the spring tensioning member to the connector is a threaded member,    one end of the threaded member being pivotally connected to the connector at the second pivot axis,    the other end of the threaded member being threadably received in a threaded passage on the spring tensioning member.    
   
   
       17 . The tiltable bed and desk furniture system of  claim 16  further characterized by and including 
 a nut spatially fixed with respect to the spring tensioning member,    said nut being in threaded engagement with the threaded member and rotatable around the axis of the threaded member.    
   
   
       18 . The tiltable bed and desk furniture system of  claim 17  further characterized in that 
 the spring means consists of a plurality of individual springs.    
   
   
       19 . The tiltable bed and desk furniture system of  claim 18  further characterized in that 
 the connector includes    means for pivotally receiving a load on the connector and    means for locking the load to the connector    whereby pivotable movement of the locked together load and connector imparts an extending or contracting motion to the springs.