Positioning assembly

Abstract

Retractable beds exist and work on a myriad of mechanisms for enabling bed and mattresses to be retracted and deployed. However, structural deficiencies together with the weight of the mattress have contributed to deficiencies and damage to these retractable beds. An embodiment of the invention herein describes a positioning assembly comprising a platform structure supported by a support structure. The platform structure supports a mattress which is retractable towards the support structure. The positioning assembly further comprises a leg structure configured for being displaceable for supporting the platform structure in cooperation with the support structure when deployed. The leg structure further linked to the support structure for retraction thereof when the platform structure is retracted. The platform assembly further comprises linkages for controlling positioning of the leg structure and at least one guide structure for guiding movement of at least one of the linkages.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A positioning assembly comprising:
 a first support structure;   a platform structure rotatably coupled to the first support structure at a pivot and displaceable between a lowered position and a raised position, the first support structure for supporting the platform structure from a surface, the platform structure having a first end and a second end and is adaptable for supporting a mattress thereon, the platform structure defining a longitudinal platform axis;   an actuator extending between the first support structure and the first end of the platform structure for counterbalancing at least the platform structure about the pivot; and   a second support structure rotatably coupled substantially adjacent the second end of the platform structure, the second support structure capable of displacement between an outward position and an inward position when the platform structure is displaced towards the lowered position and the raised position respectively, said outward position substantially opposite said inward position;   a first linkage slidably coupled to the platform structure, the first linkage being rotatably coupled to the second support structure at one end thereof;   a second linkage rotatably coupled to a link point on the first support structure at one end and rotatably coupled to the other end of the first linkage at the other end thereof; and   at least one guide structure formed integral the platform structure to limit travel of the first linkage to substantially along the longitudinal platform axis when force applied by the second linkage thereto is angularly displaced from the longitudinal platform axis,   wherein the platform structure extends between and is supported by the first support structure and the second support structure when in the lowered position to thereby dispose the mattress substantially parallel the surface.   
     
     
         2 . The positioning assembly as in  claim 1 , the platform structure comprising:
 a channel extending between the first end and the second end of the platform structure and wherethrough the first linkage is received, the channel defining a base whereupon the first linkage is supported, the at least one guide structure being disposed for substantially impeding parting of the first linkage from the base of the channel.   
     
     
         3 . The positioning assembly as in  claim 2 , the at least one guide structure comprising at least one pin spatially displaced from the base of the channel for disposing the first linkage between the base of the channel and the at least one pin. 
     
     
         4 . The positioning assembly as in  claim 2 , the at least one guide structure comprising at least one bearing, the at least one bearing at least one of a pin bearing, a ball bearing, a roller bearing and a bush bearing spatially displaced from the base of the channel for disposing the first linkage between the base of the channel and the at least one pin bearing. 
     
     
         5 . The positioning assembly as in  claim 2 , the second support structure comprising:
 a mounting plate;   a leg structure extending from the mounting plate; and   a connector having one end rotatably coupled to the mounting plate and another end rotatably coupled to the first linkage, the mounting plate being further coupled to the platform structure and is operable for displacing the leg structure between the inward position and an outward position.   
     
     
         6 . The positioning assembly as in  claim 1 , the actuator being at least one axially resiliently biased piston. 
     
     
         7 . The positioning assembly as in  claim 1 , the Euclidean distance between the link point and the longitudinal axis of the platform structure increases when the platform structure is displaced from lowered position towards the raised position to thereby displace the first linkage away from the first end and towards the second end of the platform structure, the second support structure is displaced from the outward position towards the inward position when the first linkage is displaced away from the first end and towards the second end of the platform structure. 
     
     
         8 . The positioning assembly as in  claim 1 , the platform structure forming a portion of a bed-frame whereon the mattress is supported. 
     
     
         9 . The positioning assembly as in  claim 8 , the bed-frame comprising:
 a concealment panel for substantially concealing the bed-frame when the platform structure is in the raised position.   
     
     
         10 . The positioning assembly as in  claim 1 , the actuator providing an actuation force and the actuator, the platform structure and the first support structure being inter-configured for substantially balancing the moment generated by the weight of the mattress and the moment generated by the actuation force of the actuator about the pivot when the platform structure is substantially at least one of in the lowered position, the raised position and substantially proximal the raised position. 
     
     
         11 . The positioning assembly as in  claim 1 , the first support structure comprising:
 a panel structure whereto the platform structure is coupled, the panel structure being supported on the surface and disposed substantially perpendicular a wall.   
     
     
         12 . The positioning assembly as in  claim 11 , the first support structure further comprising:
 an interface plate structurally inter-coupling the panel structure and the platform structure.   
     
     
         13 . The positioning assembly as in  claim 11 , the panel structure constituting a side of a box structure shaped for substantially receiving and concealing the mattress, the second support structure and a portion of the platform structure when the platform structure is in the raised position and the second support structure is in the inward position. 
     
     
         14 . The positioning assembly as in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a head-board assembly configured for concealing at least a portion of the actuator when the platform structure is in the lowered position, the head-board assembly being coupled to the platform structure and is structurally collapsible when the platform structure is displaced towards the raised position.   
     
     
         15 . A bed system comprising:
 a first positioning assembly;   a second positioning assembly; and   a bed-frame inter-coupling the first positioning assembly and the second positioning assembly, the bed-frame being shaped and dimensioned for supporting a mattress thereon, each of the first positioning assembly and the second positioning assembly comprising:
 a first support structure; 
 a platform structure rotatably coupled to the first support structure at a pivot and displaceable between a lowered position and a raised position, the first support structure for supporting the platform structure from a surface, the platform structure having a first end and a second end and is adaptable for supporting a mattress thereon, the platform structure defining a longitudinal platform axis; 
 an actuator extending between the first support structure and the first end of the platform structure for counterbalancing at least the platform structure about the pivot; and 
 a second support structure rotatably coupled substantially adjacent the second end of the platform structure, the second support structure capable of displacement between an outward position and an inward position when the platform structure is displaced towards the lowered position and the raised position respectively, said outward position substantially opposite said inward position; 
 a first linkage slidably coupled to the platform structure, the first linkage being rotatably coupled to the second support structure at one end thereof; 
 a second linkage rotatably coupled to a link point on the first support structure at one end and rotatably coupled to the other end of the first linkage at the other end thereof; and 
 at least one guide structure formed integral the platform structure to limit travel of the first linkage to substantially along the longitudinal platform axis when force applied by the second linkage thereto is angularly displaced from the longitudinal platform axis, 
 wherein the platform structure extends between and is supported by the first support structure and the second support structure when in the lowered position to thereby dispose the mattress substantially parallel the surface.