Bedframe with rotatable storage bin array under mattress deck

Abstract

This disclosure describes furniture that includes storage. The furniture is a furniture item that comprises a bedframe, a deck, and a below deck storage system. The bedframe has an interior and an opening at a top of the bedframe. The deck is sized and dimensioned to accommodate and support at least one of a mattress or a box spring. The deck is pivotally coupled to the bedframe to move between a closed position or configuration that prevents access to the interior of the bedframe and an open position or configuration that provides access to the interior of the bedframe. The below deck storage system has an array of storage compartments and a base. The array of storage compartments is mounted to the base for movement with respect thereto and for concurrent movement with respect to the bedframe without movement of the base.

1 . A furniture item, comprising:
 a bedframe having at least one wall that separates an interior of the bedframe from an exterior thereof, the bedframe having an opening at a top of the at least one wall, the interior which delineates a volume characterized by a set of dimensions that include a height and at least one lateral dimension that is perpendicular to the height of the interior;   a deck sized and dimensioned to accommodate and support at least one of a mattress or a box spring, the deck pivotally coupled to the bedframe to move between a closed position and an open position, the closed position which prevents access to the interior of the bedframe from the top of the at least one wall, and the open position which provides access to the interior of the bedframe from the top of the at least one wall; and   a below deck storage system having a base and an array of storage compartments, the below deck storage system having a height and at least one lateral dimension, the height of the below deck storage system smaller than the height of the interior of the bedframe and the at least one lateral dimension of the below deck storage system smaller than a corresponding one of the at least one lateral dimension of the volume of the interior of the bedframe, the array of storage compartments mounted to the base for movement with respect thereto and for concurrent movement with respect to the bedframe without movement of the base of the below deck storage system.   
     
     
         2 . The furniture item of  claim 1  wherein the below deck storage system is positioned under the deck. 
     
     
         3 . The furniture item of  claim 2  wherein the array of storage compartments are fully contained within the interior of the bedframe along an entire range of movement of the array of storage compartments with respect to the bedframe without movement of the base of the below deck storage system. 
     
     
         4 . The furniture item of  claim 3  wherein the storage compartments each have a respective opening at a top thereof, the openings facing the deck when the below deck storage system is positioned under the deck. 
     
     
         5 . The furniture item of  claim 4  wherein the array of storage compartments form an endless array of storage compartments. 
     
     
         6 . The furniture item of  claim 5  wherein a plurality of the storage compartments of the endless array of storage compartments has a trapezoidal profile when viewed from a top thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The furniture item of  claim 5  wherein the below deck storage system includes a central storage compartment, about which the endless array of storage compartments are arranged. 
     
     
         8 . The furniture item of  claim 5  wherein the below deck storage system includes a bearing that rotatably couples the endless array of storage compartments to the base, the bearing including an annular race and a plurality of roller bearings contained by the annular race, the annular race comprised of a first annular track and at least a second annular track, the first annular track physically attached to the base and the second annular track physically attached to the array of storage compartments. 
     
     
         9 . The furniture item of  claim 5  wherein the endless array of storage compartments is rotatable with respect to the bedframe. 
     
     
         10 . The furniture item of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 at least one hinge that physically pivotally couples the deck to the bedframe along at least one dimension thereof.   
     
     
         11 . The furniture item of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 at least one piston that physically couples the deck to the bedframe and that controls a rate of descent of the deck when moving from the open position to the closed position.   
     
     
         12 . The furniture item of  claim 11  wherein the base is physically separate from the bedframe and not physically coupled to the bedframe. 
     
     
         13 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The furniture of  claim 1  wherein the deck automatically moves between the closed position and the open position in response to at least one trigger. 
     
     
         22 .- 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The furniture item of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an actuator positioned to automatically move the deck to at least one of the closed position and the open position in response to at least one trigger.   
     
     
         28 . The furniture item of  claim 27  wherein the at least one trigger includes at least one mechanical switch. 
     
     
         29 . The furniture item of  claim 27  wherein the at least one trigger includes at least one remote control signal. 
     
     
         30 .- 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . The furniture item of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 a controller, the controller compares at least one information bearing signal from at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) tag to at least one stored identifier and, based on a result of the comparison, determines whether to activate the at least one actuator by selecting, based on the at least one trigger, one of a plurality of control signals to transmit to the at least one actuator.   
     
     
         42 . The furniture item of  claim 27  wherein the at least one trigger includes at least one alarm clock signal.