Foldable bed

Abstract

A foldable bed, including a frame with a first end and a second end, a pair of side rails, each side rail including a first end disposed at the first end of the frame and a second end disposed at the second end of the frame, each side rail being parallel to a longitudinal center axis of the bed, at least one leg assembly secured to the pair of side rails, and an end rail including a first portion, a second portion and a center hinge. The first portion and second portion each including a proximal end secured to the center hinge and a distal end rotatably secured to the first end of a corresponding side rail so that the first and second portions of the end rail are movable from a first position in which the first and second portions of the end rail are axially aligned, to a second position in which the first and second portions are substantially parallel to each other.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A foldable bed, comprising:
 a frame with a first end and a second end;   a pair of side rails, each side rail including a first end disposed at the first end of the frame and a second end disposed at the second end of the frame, each side rail being parallel to a longitudinal center axis of the bed;   at least one leg assembly secured to the pair of side rails; and   at least one end rail including a first portion, a second portion and a center hinge, the first portion and the second portion of the at least one end rail including a proximal end secured to the center hinge and a distal end rotatably secured to the first end of a corresponding side rail so that the first portion and the second portion of the at least one end rail are movable from a first position in which the first portion and the second portion of the at least one end rail are axially aligned to a second position in which the first portion and the second portion of the at least one end rail are substantially parallel to each other.   
     
     
         2 . The foldable bed of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one end rail further comprises a first end rail disposed at the first end of the frame and a second end rail disposed at a second end of the frame. 
     
     
         3 . The foldable bed of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a bedding surface supported by the pair of side rails and the first and second end rails, wherein the end rails apply tension to the bedding surface along a longitudinal center axis of the bed and the pair of side rails apply tension to the bedding surface along a lateral axis of the bed.   
     
     
         4 . The foldable bed of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first outer hinge disposed at the distal end of the first portion of the at least one end rail, a second outer hinge disposed at the distal end of the second portion of the at least one end rail, so that the at least one end rail is movable from the second position to a third position in which the first portion and the second portion of the at least one end rail are substantially parallel to the pair of opposed side rails.   
     
     
         5 . The foldable bed of  claim 4 , wherein the first portion and the second portion of the at least one end rail are transverse to the pair of side rails in the second position. 
     
     
         6 . The foldable bed of  claim 4 , wherein each outer hinge includes a collar defining a cylindrical bore, wherein the cylindrical bore is rotatably received about the first end of the corresponding side rail. 
     
     
         7 . The foldable bed of  claim 1 , wherein each side rail further comprises a first portion, a second portion and a center hinge, the first portion and the second portion of each side rail including a proximal end pivotably secured to the side rail center hinge and a distal end extending outwardly therefrom, so that the first portion and the second portion of each side rail are movable from a first position in which the first portion and the second portion of each side rail are axially aligned to a second position in which the first portion and the second portion of each side rail are substantially parallel to each other. 
     
     
         8 . The foldable bed of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one leg assembly further comprises a first leg assembly with a first leg, a second leg and a center hinge, wherein a proximal end of the first leg is secured to the side rail center hinge of a first one of the pair of the pair of side rails and a proximal end of the second leg is secured to the side rail center hinge of a second one of the pair of side rails 
     
     
         9 . The foldable bed of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one leg assembly further comprises a second leg assembly and a third leg assembly disposed at the first end and the second end of the frame, respectively. 
     
     
         10 . A foldable bed, comprising:
 a frame with a first end and a second end;   a first side rail and a second side rail, each side rail including a first end disposed at the first end of the frame and a second end disposed at the second end of the frame, each side rail being parallel to a longitudinal center axis of the bed;   at least one leg assembly secured to the first side rail and the second side rail; and   a first end rail including a first outer hinge, the first outer hinge connecting a first distal end of the first end rail to the first end of the first side rail so that the first end rail is movable from a first position in which the first end rail is perpendicular to the first side rail to a second position in which the first end rail is parallel too the first side rail.   
     
     
         11 . The foldable bed of  claim 10 , wherein the first end rail further comprises a first portion, a second portion and a center hinge, the first portion and the second portion of the first end rail each including a proximal end secured to the center hinge and a distal end rotatably secured to the first end of a corresponding side rail so that the first portion and the second portion of the first end rail are movable from a first position in which the first portion and the second portion of the first end rail are axially aligned to a second position in which the first portion and the second portion of the first end rail are substantially parallel to each other. 
     
     
         12 . The foldable bed of  claim 10 , further comprising a second end rail disposed at the second end of the frame. 
     
     
         13 . The foldable bed of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a bedding surface supported by the pair of side rails and the first and second end rails, wherein the end rails apply tension to the bedding surface along a longitudinal center axis of the bed and the pair of side rails apply tension to the bedding surface along a lateral axis of the bed.   
     
     
         14 . The foldable bed of  claim 10 , further comprising a second outer hinge disposed at a second distal end of the first end rail, the second outer hinge rotatably connecting the second distal end of the end rail to the first end of the second side rail. 
     
     
         15 . The foldable bed of  claim 14 , wherein each of the first outer hinge and the second outer hinge includes a collar defining a cylindrical bore, wherein each cylindrical bore is rotatably received about the first end of the corresponding side rail. 
     
     
         16 . The foldable bed of  claim 10 , wherein each side rail further comprises a first portion, a second portion and a center hinge, the first portion and the second portion of the side rail each including a proximal end pivotably secured to the side rail center hinge and a distal end extending outwardly therefrom, so that the first portion and the second portion of each side rail are movable from a first position in which the first portion and the second portion of each side rail are axially aligned to a second position in which the first portion and the second portion of each side rail are substantially parallel to each other. 
     
     
         17 . The foldable bed of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one leg assembly further comprises a first leg assembly with a first leg, a second leg and a center hinge, wherein a proximal end of the first leg is secured to the side rail center hinge of a first one of the pair of the pair of side rails and a proximal end of the second leg is secured to the side rail center hinge of a second one of the pair of side rails. 
     
     
         18 . A method of folding a foldable bed, comprising:
 providing a frame with a first end and a second end;   providing a pair of side rails, each side rail including a first end disposed at the first end of the frame and a second end disposed at the second end of the frame, each side rail being parallel to a longitudinal center axis of the bed;   providing at least one leg assembly secured to the pair of side rails;   providing at least one end rail including a first portion, a second portion and a center hinge, the first portion and the second portion of the at least one end rail including a proximal end secured to the center hinge and a distal end rotatably secured to the first end of a corresponding side rail; and   lifting upwardly on the at least one end rail so that the first portion and the second portion of the at least one end rail are moved from a first position in which the first portion and the second portion of the at least one end rail are axially aligned to a second position in which the first portion and the second portion of the at least one end rail are substantially parallel to each other.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 pushing inwardly on the at least one end rail so that the at least one end rail moves from the second position in which the first portion and the second portion are perpendicular to the pair of side rails to a third position in which the first portion and the second portion of the at least one end rail are parallel to the pair of side rails.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein providing a pair of side rails step further comprises:
 each side rail further including a first portion, a second portion and a center hinge, the first portion and the second portion of each side rail including a proximal end pivotably secured to the side rail center hinge and a distal end extending outwardly therefrom; and   moving the first portion and the second portion of each side rail from a first position in which the first portion and the second portion of each side rail are axially aligned to a second position in which the first portion and the second portion of each side rail are substantially parallel to each other.