Coupling assembly

Abstract

Retractable beds exist and work on a myriad of coupling assembly, for example drawstrings and springs, for enabling the bed, or in some cases 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 coupling assembly comprising a first support structure, a platform structure adaptable for supporting a mattress and a coupling pin. The coupling pin comprises a cylindrical portion for locating a first receptacle of the first support structure with a second receptacle of the support structure. The coupling pin further comprises for coupling with the second receptacle. The cylindrical portion is receivable by the first receptacle for pivoting the platform structure with the first support structure between a raised position and a lowered position.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A coupling assembly comprising:
 a first support structure defining a first receptacle;   a platform structure having a first end and a second end and defining a second receptacle, the platform structure and is adaptable for supporting a mattress thereon; and   a coupling pin comprising:
 a cylindrical portion for locating the first receptacle with the second receptacle; and 
 a fastening portion adjacent and concentric the cylindrical portion, the fastening portion being shaped and dimensioned for coupling with the second receptacle, the cylindrical portion being receivable by the first receptacle for pivoting the platform structure with the first support structure between a raised position and a lowered position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The coupling assembly as in  claim 1 , the fastening portion being externally threaded and the second receptacle being internally threaded for engagement with the fastening portion of the coupling pin. 
     
     
         3 . The coupling assembly as in  claim 1 , the coupling pin further comprising:
 a head portion adjacent and substantially concentric the fastening portion, the head portion for abutting with the platform structure when the fastening portion is coupled to the second receptacle of the platform structure.   
     
     
         4 . The coupling assembly as in  claim 3 , the head portion of the coupling pin being shaped for mating with a fastening tool. 
     
     
         5 . The coupling assembly as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an actuator extending between the first support structure and the first end of the platform structure for biasing the platform structure towards the raised position; 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, said outward position substantially opposite said inward position, when the platform structure is displaced towards the lowered position and the raised position respectively,   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.   
     
     
         6 . The coupling assembly as in  claim 1 , the actuator being at least one axially resiliently biased piston. 
     
     
         7 . The coupling 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.   
     
     
         8 . The coupling assembly as in  claim 7 , the first support structure further comprising:
 an interface plate structurally inter-coupling the panel structure and the platform structure.   
     
     
         9 . The coupling assembly as in  claim 7 , 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. 
     
     
         10 . The coupling assembly as in  claim 9 , 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.   
     
     
         11 . The coupling assembly as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first linkage slidably coupled to the platform structure, the first linkage being rotatably coupled to the second support structure at one end thereof; and   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, 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.   
     
     
         12 . The coupling assembly as in  claim 1 , the platform structure forming a portion of a bed-frame whereon the mattress is supported. 
     
     
         13 . The coupling assembly as in  claim 12 , the bed-frame comprising:
 a concealment panel for substantially concealing the bed-frame when the platform structure is in the raised position.   
     
     
         14 . The coupling 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. 
     
     
         15 . A coupling pin comprising:
 a cylindrical portion for locating a first receptacle of a first support structure with a second receptacle of a platform structure, the platform structure having a first end and a second end and adaptable for supporting a mattress thereon;   a fastening portion adjacent and concentric the cylindrical portion, the fastening portion being shaped and dimensioned for coupling with the second receptacle, the cylindrical portion being receivable by the first receptacle for pivoting the platform structure with the first support structure between a raised position and a lowered position; and   a head portion adjacent and substantially concentric the fastening portion, the head portion for abutting with the platform structure when the fastening portion is coupled to the second receptacle of the platform structure.   
     
     
         16 . The coupling pin as in  claim 15 , the fastening portion being externally threaded and the second receptacle being internally threaded for engagement with the fastening portion of the coupling pin. 
     
     
         17 . The coupling pin as in  claim 16 , the head portion of the coupling pin being shaped for mating with a fastening tool. 
     
     
         18 . A coupling method comprising:
 positioning a first support structure having a first receptacle with a platform structure having a second receptacle for aligning the second receptacle with the first receptacle, the platform structure having a first end and a second end and adaptable for supporting a mattress thereon;   inserting a cylindrical portion of a coupling pin through the second receptacle towards the first receptacle for locating the second receptacle with the first receptacle, the coupling pin further comprising a fastening portion adjacent and concentric the cylindrical portion; and   engaging the fastening portion of the coupling pin with the second receptacle for further displacing the cylindrical portion through the second receptacle, the fastening portion being shaped and dimensioned for coupling with the second receptacle when engaged therewith,   wherein coupling the fastening portion of the coupling pin with the second receptacle with the cylindrical portion being received by the first receptacle pivots the platform structure with the first support structure to enable positioning of the platform structure between a raised position and a lowered position.   
     
     
         19 . The coupling method as in  claim 18 , the fastening portion being externally threaded and the second receptacle being internally threaded for engagement with the fastening portion of the coupling pin. 
     
     
         20 . The coupling method as in  claim 16 , the coupling pin further comprising a head portion adjacent and substantially concentric the fastening portion, the head portion for abutting with the platform structure when the fastening portion is coupled to the second receptacle of the platform structure, the head portion of the coupling pin being shaped for mating with a fastening tool.