Adjustable Bed with Low Profile Adjustable Foundation

Abstract

The disclosure generally relates to an adjustable foundation and bed, in particular having a low vertical profile while maintaining a full range of motion for articulation of its various deck support sections. In various embodiments, a deck support section of an adjustable bed can include an open area in the deck support surface. The open area is positioned relative to an actuator mounted beneath the deck support section and support surface such that a portion of the actuator occupies the open area during at least some of the normal range of motion of the actuator and corresponding deck support section. The additional space provided by the open area allows inclusion of an otherwise bulky actuator mechanical component in a vertically smaller space, permitting the adjustable bed to have an overall lower vertical profile.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An adjustable foundation comprising:
 (a) a stationary bed frame;   (b) a mattress support surface comprising (i) a first deck support section comprising a deck support surface defining a first open area therein, and (ii) a second deck support section pivotally attached to the first deck support section; and   (c) a first actuator having (A) a first end mounted to the first deck support section and (B) a second end mounted to the stationary bed frame, wherein:
 the first actuator is adapted to move the first deck support section between articulated and substantially flat positions relative to the stationary bed frame, and 
 the first end of the first actuator is positioned such that it occupies at least a portion of the first open area at one or more positions of the first deck support section ranging between a fully articulated position and a substantially flat position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The adjustable foundation of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the first actuator corresponds to a winding portion of the first actuator, and the second end of the first actuator corresponds to a distal end of a push rod of the first actuator. 
     
     
         3 . The adjustable foundation of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the adjustable foundation further comprises a first frame support that supports the first deck support section, and a second frame support that supports the second deck support section;   the first end of the first actuator is mounted to the first deck support section via the first frame support to which the first end of the first actuator is attached;   the first deck support section is pivotally attached to the second deck support section via a pivotable connection between the first frame support and the second frame support; and   the stationary bed frame supports the first frame support and the second frame support.   
     
     
         4 . The adjustable foundation of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the first actuator is pivotally mounted to the first deck support section, and the second end of the first actuator is pivotally mounted to the stationary bed frame at a vertical position that is below that of the first end when the first deck support section is in a substantially flat position. 
     
     
         5 . The adjustable foundation of  claim 1 , wherein the first deck support section corresponds to a back and head portion of the mattress support surface, and the second deck support section corresponds to a bottom portion of the mattress support surface. 
     
     
         6 . The adjustable foundation of  claim 1 , wherein the first deck support section corresponds to a foot portion of the mattress support surface, and the second deck support section corresponds to a leg portion of the mattress support surface. 
     
     
         7 . The adjustable foundation of  claim 1 , wherein the stationary bed frame comprises:
 a lower longitudinal support member extending longitudinally substantially the length of the mattress support surface on both sides of the stationary bed frame;   a lower lateral support member extending laterally between and mounted to the lower longitudinal support member on each side of the stationary bed frame;   an upper longitudinal support member extending longitudinally along both sides of the stationary bed frame and mounted to the lower lateral support member; and   an upper lateral support member extending laterally between and mounted to the upper longitudinal support member on each side of the stationary bed frame.   
     
     
         8 . The adjustable foundation of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the second end of the first actuator is mounted to the upper lateral support member of the stationary bed frame; and   the upper lateral support member is positioned vertically below the first deck support section or the second deck support section.   
     
     
         9 . The adjustable foundation of  claim 7 , wherein a vertical distance between an upper edge of the lower longitudinal support member and a bottom longitudinal edge of the mattress support surface ranges from about 5 cm to about 15 cm. 
     
     
         10 . The adjustable foundation of  claim 1 , wherein the stationary bed frame comprises: one or more lift members extending from the stationary bed frame and being adapted for gripping by a user. 
     
     
         11 . The adjustable foundation of  claim 1 , wherein the stationary bed frame comprises: one or more extendable support members outwardly extending from the stationary bed frame and being adapted for mounting within an external furniture frame. 
     
     
         12 . The adjustable foundation of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 (d) a furniture frame positioned around at least a portion of the stationary bed frame, wherein the one or more extendable support members are extended outwardly to contact the furniture frame and stabilize the adjustable foundation within the furniture frame.   
     
     
         13 . The adjustable foundation of  claim 1 , wherein the mattress support surface further comprises (iii) a third deck support section pivotally attached to the second deck support section, and (iv) a fourth deck support section pivotally attached to the third deck support section. 
     
     
         14 . The adjustable foundation of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 (d) a second actuator having (A) a first end mounted to the third deck support section and (B) a second end mounted to the stationary bed frame, wherein the second actuator is adapted move the third and/or fourth deck support sections between articulated and substantially flat positions relative to the stationary bed frame.   
     
     
         15 . The adjustable foundation of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 (d) a second actuator having (A) a first end mounted to the fourth deck support section and (B) a second end mounted to the stationary bed frame, wherein the second actuator is adapted move the third and/or fourth deck support sections between articulated and substantially flat positions relative to the stationary bed frame.   
     
     
         16 . The adjustable foundation of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (d) a mattress positioned above the mattress support surface.   
     
     
         17 . The adjustable foundation of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the stationary bed frame comprises an upper longitudinal support member extending longitudinally along both sides of the stationary bed frame, the upper longitudinal support comprising (i) a fixed bottom portion extending longitudinally along both sides of the stationary bed frame and (ii) a top portion extending longitudinally along both sides of the stationary bed frame which is slidably mounted to the fixed bottom portion;   the mattress support surface is mounted to the top portion;   the top portion is adapted to slide longitudinally towards a head end of the stationary bed frame when the first deck support section is articulated away from the substantially flat position; and   the top portion is adapted to slide longitudinally away from the head end of the stationary bed frame when the first deck support section is articulated towards the substantially flat position.