Adjustable bed with single actuator

Abstract

An adjustable bed includes a base frame and a mattress frame having a plurality of pivotally interconnected sections. A plurality of links are positioned between the base frame and the mattress frame. The mattress frame may be moved between a high position and a low position. A single linear actuator is connected to the mattress frame. The actuator is extendable and retractable to raise and lower the mattress frame with the mattress frame sections in a common plane. The actuator may also be retracted when the mattress frame is in the low position to articulate the mattress frame sections.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. An adjustable bed, comprising: a base frame;   a mattress frame including a head section and a lower section pivoted to said head section;   mounting means operatively connected to said base frame and said mattress frame for permitting said mattress frame to be moved between a high position and a low position relative to the base frame with the head section and lower section of the mattress frame lying in a generally common plane and for permitting said head section to pivot upwardly with respect to said lower section to define a sated position only when said mattress frame is in the low position; and   a single actuator pivotally connected to said base frame and having an extendable and retractable member directly connected to said head section of said mattress frame for lowering said mattress frame from the high position to the low position with said sections in a horizontal orientation and for pivoting said head section upwardly towards the seated position only when the mattress frame is in said low position.   
     
     
       2. An adjustable bed as defined by claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises: a first pair of pivotally interconnected links, one of said links being pivoted to said lower section and the other of said links being pivoted to said base frame.   
     
     
       3. An adjustable bed as defined by claim 2 wherein said mounting means further comprises: a second pair of pivotally interconnected links connected between said head section and said base frame.   
     
     
       4. An adjustable bed as defined by claim 3 wherein said actuator comprises: a crank arm fixed to said head section.   
     
     
       5. An adjustable bed as defined by claim 4 wherein said actuator extendable and retractable member is connected to said crank arm. 
     
     
       6. An adjustable bed as defined by claim 1 wherein said lower section of said mattress frame comprises: a leg section; and   a seat section pivoted to said leg section and said head section.   
     
     
       7. An adjustable bed as defined by claim 6 wherein said mounting means comprises a plurality of links connected between said base frame and said mattress frame, said links permitting said mattress frame to be moved between said low and high positions with said sections in a common plane. 
     
     
       8. An adjustable bed as defined by claim 6 further including a leg section pivot link having an end pivoted to said leg section and another end selectively connectable to said mounting means and said mattress frame to fix the leg section with respect to said seat section and permit leg section articulation with respect to said seat section. 
     
     
       9. An adjustable bed as defined by claim 8 wherein said mounting means comprises a plurality of links connected between said base frame and said mattress frame, said links permitting said mattress frame to be moved between said low and high positions with said sections in a common plane. 
     
     
       10. An adjustable bed as defined by claim 9 wherein said actuator comprises: a crank arm fixed to said head section.   
     
     
       11. An adjustable bed as defined by claim 10 wherein said actuator further comprises: a drive including an extendable and retractable member, said member being connected to said crank arm.   
     
     
       12. A high/low mechanism for an articulating bed of the type including a base and a mattress support having a back section pivoted to a leg section, said mechanism comprising: an arm attachable to the back section;   linkage means adapted to be connected to the base and the mattress support and permitting the support to be moved between high and low positions relative to the base with the back and leg sections lying in a common plane;   an actuator bracket attachable to the base; and   a linear actuator pivoted to said actuator bracket and having an extendable and retractable element, said element connected to said arm and wherein said arm and said linkage means are positionable and dimensioned so that when the element is in a fully retracted position the back section is angled to a seating position relative to said leg section and as the element extends towards an outer limit the back section is lowered to a flat position relative to said leg section and the mattress support is then raised to the high position with said sections flat.   
     
     
       13. A high/low mechanism as defined by claim 12 wherein said linkage means comprises: a first pair of pivotally interconnected links, one of said links being pivotable to the leg section of the mattress support and the other of said links being pivotable to the base of the bed.   
     
     
       14. A high/low mechanism as defined by claim 13 wherein said mounting means further comprises: a second pair of pivotally interconnected links connectable between the back section of the mattress frame and the base of the bed.   
     
     
       15. A high/low mechanism as defined by claim 14 wherein said linkage means further includes a control link extending between links of said first and second pairs of links. 
     
     
       16. A high/low mechanism as defined by claim 15 wherein said linear actuator includes an electric motor and a lead screw. 
     
     
       17. A high/low mechanism as defined by claim 12 further including: a leg section pivot link selectively connectable to said linkage means; and   a leg section bracket pivotally supporting said leg section pivot link, said leg section bracket being attachable to the mattress support. .Iadd.   
     
     
       18.  An adjustable bed, comprising: a base frame;   a mattress frame including a first section and a second section pivoted to said first section;   mounting means operatively connected to said base frame and said mattress frame for permitting said mattress frame to be moved between a high position and a low position relative to the base frame with the first section and second section of the mattress frame lying in a generally common plane and for permitting said first section to articulate with respect to said second section only when said mattress frame is in the low position; and   a single actuator pivotally connected to said base frame and having an extendable and retractable member directly connected to said first section of said mattress frame for lowering said mattress frame from the high position to the low position with said sections in a horizontal orientation and for articulating said first section with respect to said second section only when the mattress frame is in said low position. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. An adjustable bed as defined by claim 18 wherein said mounting means comprises:   a first pair of pivotally interconnected links, one of said links being pivoted to said second section and the other of said links being pivoted to said base frame. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. An adjustable bed as defined by claim 19 wherein said mounting means further comprises:   a second pair of pivotally interconnected links connected between said first section and said base frame. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. An adjustable bed as defined by claim 20 wherein said actuator comprises:   a crank arm fixed to said first section, said actuator extendable and   
     
     
        retractable member being connected to said crank arm. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. A high/low mechanism for an articulating bed of the type including a base and a mattress support having a first section pivoted to a second section, said mechanism comprising: an arm attachable to one of said sections;   linkage means adapted to be connected to the base and the mattress support and permitting the support to be moved between high and low positions relative to the base with the first and second sections lying in a common plane;   an actuator bracket attachable to the base; and   a linear actuator pivoted to said actuator bracket and having an extendable and retractable element, said element connected to said arm and wherein said arm and said linkage means are positionable and dimensioned so that when the element is in a fully retracted position the first section is angled relative to said second section and as the element extends towards an outer limit the first section is lowered to a flat position relative to said second section and the mattress support is then raised to the high position with said sections flat. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. A high/low mechanism as defined by claim 22 wherein said linkage means comprises:   a first pair of pivotally interconnected links, one of said links being pivotable to the first section of the mattress support and the other of said links being pivotable to the base of the bed;   a second pair of pivotally interconnected links connectable between the second section of the mattress frame and the base of the bed; and   a control link extending between links of said first and second pairs of   
     
     
        links. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24.  A high/low mechanism as defined by claim 23 wherein said linear actuator includes an electric motor and a lead screw. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25. A high/low mechanism as defined by claim 23 further including: a leg section pivot link selectively connectable to said linkage means; and   a leg section bracket pivotally supporting said leg section pivot link, said leg section bracket being attachable to the mattress support. .Iaddend.