Bi-fold frame assembly for pull-out cabinet beds

Abstract

This invention relates to a frame mechanism used for a cabinet pull-out bed. The frame mechanism is a bi-fold frame with a back frame connected to and/or comprising two straight side frames, a front frame connected to and/or comprising two curve side frames, and two slot joints such that each slot joint connects a curve side frame to a straight side frame. A front support leg and a center support leg is also provided, along with two top frame hinges. Each top frame hinge comprises a small top frame hinge pivotally connected to a large top frame hinge. The large top frame hinge is pivotally connected to the front support leg and the small top frame hinge is pivotally connected to side frame. A mounting plate, support leg connecting bar and mattress base are also provided.

1 . A bi-fold frame assembly for use as a pull-out bed for a cabinet, comprising:
 a back frame having two back frame ends;   a front frame having two front frame ends;   two slot joints, each slot joint having a slot joint first end and a slot joint second end;   a front support leg pivotally connected to the front frame;   a center support leg pivotally connected to the back frame; and   two top frame hinges each comprising a small top frame hinge with a small top frame hinge first end and a small top frame hinge second end, and a large top frame hinge with a large top frame hinge first end and a large top frame hinge second end, wherein the small top frame hinge second end is pivotally connected to the top frame hinge first end;   wherein the two back frame ends are each pivotally connected to the slot joint first end and both of the slot joint second ends are pivotally connected to the front frame ends;   and wherein the small top frame hinge first end is pivotally connected to the back frame and the large top frame hinge second end is pivotally attached to the front support leg.   
     
     
         2 . The bi-fold frame assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the back frame further comprises two straight side frames. 
     
     
         3 . The bi-fold frame assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the front frame further comprises two curve side frames. 
     
     
         4 . The bi-fold frame assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more mounting plates for attaching to an interior surface of a cabinet, wherein the one or more mounting plates are pivotally connected to the back frame. 
     
     
         5 . The bi-fold frame assembly of  claim 4 , which additionally comprises a mounting plate ear and wherein the mounting plate is pivotally connected to the back frame via the mounting plate ear. 
     
     
         6 . The bi-fold frame assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the two straight side frames curve before joining the back frame. 
     
     
         7 . The bi-fold frame assembly of  claim 5 , further comprising a support leg connecting bar having a first connecting bar end and a second connecting bar end, wherein the first connecting bar end is pivotally connected to the mounting plate ear and the second connecting bar end is connected to the center support leg. 
     
     
         8 . The bi-fold frame assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the support leg connecting bar is substantially parallel to the straight side frame. 
     
     
         9 . The bi-fold frame assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the center support leg and the front support leg are substantially U-shaped. 
     
     
         10 . The bi-fold frame assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the center support leg and front support leg are curved at a bottom of the U-shape. 
     
     
         11 . The bi-fold frame assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the center support leg has two center support leg ends that are tilted away from the center support legs where they attach to the back frame. 
     
     
         12 . The bi-fold frame assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a mattress base connected to the bi-fold frame assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The bi-fold frame assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the mattress base is connected to the bi-fold frame assembly with one or more springs. 
     
     
         14 . The bi-fold frame assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more stretcher wires connected to, and extending between, the front frame. 
     
     
         15 . The bi-fold frame assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the stretcher wires are removeably connected to the curve side frames to form an X-shape. 
     
     
         16 . The bi-fold frame assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the bi-fold frame assembly is attached to an interior of the cabinet using two mounting plates. 
     
     
         17 . A pull-out cabinet bed comprising
 a back frame comprising two straight side frames, each straight side framing having a straight side frame end;   a front frame comprising two curve side frames, each curve side frame having a curve side frame end;   two slot joints, each slot joint having a slot joint first end and a slot joint second end;   a front support leg pivotally connected to the curve side frames;   a center support leg pivotally connected to the straight side frames; and   two top frame hinges each comprising a small top frame hinge with a small top frame hinge first end and a small top frame hinge second end, and a large top frame hinge with a large top frame hinge first end and a large top frame hinge second end, wherein the small top frame hinge second end is pivotally connected to the top frame hinge first end;   wherein each straight side frame end is pivotally connected to the slot joint first end and both of the slot joint second ends are pivotally connected to the curve side frame end;   and wherein the small top frame hinge first end is pivotally connected to the straight side frame and the large top frame hinge second end is pivotally attached to the front support leg;   and wherein one or more mounting plates are pivotally connected to the back frame and attached attaching to an interior surface of the cabinet.   
     
     
         18 . The pull-out cabinet bed of  claim 17 , wherein there are two mounting plates. 
     
     
         19 . A pull-out cabinet bed comprising a bi-fold frame assembly pivotally mounted in a cabinet that is movable from a vertical folded position in the cabinet to a horizontal extended position ready to be used as a bed by pulling down on the frame in the vertical folded position until it reaches a horizontal folded position and unfolding the frame until it is in the horizontal extended position. 
     
     
         20 . A method of opening a bi-fold bed frame mounted to the interior of an opened cabinet, comprising the steps of:
 grasping the bi-fold frame assembly comprising a front frame having a front support leg and a back frame having a back support leg from a folded position that is substantially perpendicular to the floor inside the cabinet;   pulling down the bi-fold frame assembly such that the frame pivots around two mounting plates that are pivotally connected to the bi-fold frame assembly and also secured to interior surfaces of the cabinet, until the bi-fold frame is in the folded position, and substantially parallel to the floor;   unfolding a center support leg so that it comes to rest on the floor;   pulling the front frame of the bi-fold frame assembly away from the cabinet so that the front frame pivots from a folded position resting on the back frame to being substantially planar with the back frame, in an unfolded position, while the front support leg simultaneously unfolds and comes to rest on the floor.