[0001] The present invention relates to a device for inclining beds or couches, and in particular
to a device for inclining the variable-tilt headboards and/or footboards of adjustable
beds or couches.
[0002] Beds and couches with a variable-tilt headboard and/or footboard are known. These
kinds of bed or couch are generally provided with a base comprising a fixed intermediate
portion which supports two end portions corresponding to the footboard and to the
headboard and hinged to the intermediate portion about two axes which are transverse
to the extension of the bed or couch. The intermediate portion furthermore supports,
proximate to each pivoting axis of the related end portion, a shaft which is arranged
parallel to the pivoting axes of the end portions and is rotatable about its own axis
with respect to the intermediate portion of the base of the bed or couch. Each shaft
is arranged below the supporting surface defined by the base and is provided, proximate
to its axial ends, with two transverse arms rigidly coupled thereto and resting, with
their free end, on the lower side of the related end portion. The tilt of the headboard
or footboard is changed by partially rotating these shafts, so that their arms produce
a partial rotation of the related end portion, about the related pivoting axis, with
respect to the intermediate portion of the base.
[0003] The shafts are rotated by means of appropriate actuation devices associated with
the intermediate portion of the base in a downward region and generally comprising
two electric gearmotors which are actuated mutually independently and act, by means
of a kinematic transmission arranged transversely to the shaft to be actuated, on
the end of actuation levers or arms which are rigidly coupled to the shaft to be actuated,
causing its partial rotation.
[0004] Some of these devices are supported by the intermediate portion of the base of the
couch or bed and require excessive assembly time to connect the shaft actuation levers.
[0005] Other kinds of device are preassembled within a box-like body associated with the
shafts at the actuation levers. With these kinds of device, there is the advantage
of a simpler and quicker installation, but there is also the drawback that, since
the actuation levers are disconnected from the transmission which connects them to
the related motor, it is necessary to make resort to special structural arrangements
to eliminate any play between the levers and the transmission. These arrangements,
generally based on adjusting the overall volume occupied by the transmission, unavoidably
complicate the structure of the device and thus its manufacture.
[0006] An aim of the present invention is to solve the above described problem by providing
a device for actuating bedsprings for beds or couches with a variable-tilt headboard
and/or footboard, which is simple and quick to install without requiring, during installation,
adjustment operations for recovering any play.
[0007] Within the scope of this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a
device which also simplifies manufacture of the couch or bed base in which said device
is to be installed.
[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a device the production costs
whereof are competitive with those of known devices.
[0009] With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided a device for inclining
beds and couches as defined in the appended claims.
[0010] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent
from the following description of two preferred but not exclusive embodiments thereof,
illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
figure 1 is a schematic view of a bed with an inclinable headboard and footboard,
equipped with the device according to the present invention;
figure 2 is a view of the bed of figure 1 with the footboard in a raised position;
figures 3 to 7 are views of the device according to the invention in a first embodiment,
and more particularly:
figure 3 is a schematic sectional view of a portion of the device according to the
invention in an operating position;
figure 4 is a schematic sectional view, similar to figure 3, of the device according
to the invention in another operating position;
figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the actuation lever and the main shaft;
figure 6 is a front elevation view of the device fitted on a main shaft of a bed or
couch;
figure 7 is an enlarged-scale sectional view of a detail of figure 4;
figures 8 to 11 are views of the device according to the invention in a second embodiment,
and more particularly:
figure 8 is a schematic sectional view of a portion of the device according to the
invention;
figure 9 is a view of a detail of figure 8, showing the coupling between the actuation
lever and the main shaft;
figures 10 and 11 are front elevation views of the operation for coupling the device
according to the invention to the main shaft of a bed or couch.
[0011] With reference to the above figures, the device according to the present invention
in its first embodiment, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, is used
to actuate beds or couches with a movable footboard and/or headboard of the type comprising,
in a manner known per se, a couch or bed base 2 with a supporting intermediate portion
3 and with at least one end portion 4, constituting the headboard or footboard, which
is pivoted to the intermediate portion 3 about an axis 5 which is transverse to the
extension of the bed or couch. The intermediate portion 3 rotatably supports, in a
downward region, a main shaft 6; the shaft is arranged parallel to the axis 5 and
is provided with transverse arms 7a and 7b which slidingly couple with their free
ends on the lower side of the stringers of the end portion 4 of the base. In this
manner, a partial rotation of the main shaft 6 about its axis 6a causes, by means
of the action of the arms 7a and 7b, a variation in the angle of the end portion 4
with respect to the intermediate portion 3, raising or lowering the headboard or footboard
of the bed or couch, as schematically shown in figure 2.
[0012] The device according to the invention comprises a casing 8 which may be fixed to
the underside of the intermediate portion 3 of the bed or couch base 2. The casing
supports at least one lever 10 for rotation about an axis 9, and actuation means 11
acting on the lever 10 so as to cause its rotation about the axis 9 with respect to
the casing 8. The lever 10 is detachably associable with the main shaft 6 so that
it rotates rigidly therewith about an axis 6a. The rotation axis 9 of the lever 10
is substantially coaxial with the axis 6a.
[0013] More particularly, the actuation means 11 comprise a gearmotor 12 supported by said
casing 8 and having an output shaft 13 which is threaded and arranged substantially
at right angles to the rotation axis 9.
[0014] The output shaft 13 couples to a female thread defined inside a slider 14 which is
slideable along guides 15a and 15b constituted by raised portions of the internal
walls of the casing 8. The guides 15a and 15b extend parallely to the output shaft
13, and the end of the slider 14 which is opposite to the gearmotor 12 is provided
with a slot 16 transversely elongated with respect to the sliding direction of the
slider 14; a pin 17 couples in said slot and is connected to the free end 10a of the
lever 10 which is directed towards the slider.
[0015] The opposite end 10b of the lever 10 is substantially cylindrical and is rotatably
coupled in a supporting seat 18 defined in the casing 8. The rotation axis 9 constitutes
the fulcrum of the lever 10.
[0016] For connection between the lever 10 and the main shaft 6 there is a connecting element
which is movable axially along the main shaft 6 and is rotatably coupled thereto about
its axis 6a.
[0017] In the first embodiment, illustrated in figures 3 to 7, the main shaft 6 is formed
by two parts 19a and 19b mutually axially aligned and mutually spaced by a length
which is equal to, or greater than, the axial length of the end 10b of the lever 10,
so that the end 10b of the lever 10 is arrangeable between the two parts 19a and 19b
of the main shaft 6 with the rotation axis 9 aligned with the axis 6a of the shaft
6.
[0018] An axial seat 20 having a polygonal or otherwise non-circular cross-section is defined
inside the two parts 19a and 19b around the axis 6a. The end 10b is also axially crossed
by a through seat 21, the axis whereof coincides with the rotation axis 9; said seat
21 is shaped substantially like the axial seat 20.
[0019] The connecting element is constituted by a dowel 22 which is shaped so as to match
the axial seat 20 and the seat 21, and is axially slidingly accommodated in the part
19a of the main shaft 6.
[0020] By means of its axial sliding, the dowel 22 is insertable in the part 19b of the
main shaft 6 by passing through the seat 21 of the lever 10.
[0021] The coupling of the dowel 22 to the seat 21 rigidly couples the lever 10 to the main
shaft 6 in rotation about the axis 6a and, at the same time, also causes the device
according to the present invention to be supported by the main shaft 6.
[0022] The axial movement of the dowel 22 is achieved by means of a pin 23 fixed to the
dowel 22 and protruding outwardly from an axial groove 24 defined in the part 19a
of the shaft 6.
[0023] Conveniently, in order to facilitate the centering of the shaft 6 with respect to
the lever 10, said shaft 6 is provided with a polygonal outer profile, for example
a square one, except for its end portions which are supported by the intermediate
portion of the couch or bed base, and the axial ends of the portion 10b of the lever
10, in which the seat 21 is provided, have protrusions 25 defining a support for the
outer lateral surface of the shaft 6.
[0024] In the second embodiment of the device, generally designated by the reference numeral
1a and illustrated in particular in figures 8 to 11, the actuation means and the end
10a of the lever 10 are practically identical to what has already been described with
reference to the first embodiment; for this reason, the same reference numerals used
in figures 3 to 7 have been kept for these components.
[0025] In this second embodiment, the end 10b of the lever 10 has been designed so that
it is coupleable to a monolithic main shaft 6.
[0026] A through seat 30 having a polygonal or otherwise non-circular transverse cross-section
is again defined in the end 10b of the lever 10 around the rotation axis 9.
[0027] Said through seat 30 is open laterally, and at the opening of the seat 30 there is
also an opening 31 in the casing 8 of the device.
[0028] The size of the opening 31 of the casing, transversely to the rotation axis 9, is
such as to allow the passage of the shaft 6 with a movement of the casing 8 in a lateral
direction with respect to the shaft 6, whereas the through seat 30 is sized so as
to receive, besides the shaft 6, also a sleeve 32 axially slideable along the shaft
6.
[0029] Said sleeve 32 is rigidly coupled to the shaft 6 in rotation about its axis 6a and
is externally shaped with a polygonal or otherwise non-circular profile, so as to
match the shape of the through seat 30.
[0030] The sleeve 32 constitutes the element for connecting the main shaft 6 to the lever
10 and rigidly couples these two elements to each other in rotation about their respective
coinciding axes 6a and 9.
[0031] Advantageously, in the illustrated embodiment the shaft 6, the sleeve 32 and the
lever 10 have a square cross-sectional profile.
[0032] A shoulder 33 is provided in order to stop the axial sliding of the sleeve 32 in
one direction along the shaft 6 after coupling to the seat 10.
[0033] Conveniently, the opening 31 of the casing 8 is provided with a removable closure
cover 34 preventing the infiltration of dust or dirt inside the casing.
[0034] The device according to the invention preferably comprises, instead of a single gearmotor
12, two gearmotors which are actuatable mutually independently and respectively actuate
a lever 10, which as described is associable with a main shaft 6 for lifting or lowering
the footboard, and another lever 10 associable with another main shaft 6 to lift or
lower the headboard of a bed or couch.
[0035] In practice, this device corresponds to the device described and illustrated with
reference to figures 3 and 8, with the two levers 10 mutually spaced and with the
two gearmotors 12 arranged between said two levers.
[0036] Assembly and operation of the device according to the present invention are evident
from what has been described and illustrated.
[0037] In particular, it is evident that the device according to the invention can be assembled
in a very short time and very easily by connecting the main shafts of a bed with a
movable headboard and/or footboard to the levers 10 of the device which are located
inside the casing 8.
[0038] In practice it has been observed that the device according to the invention fully
achieves the intended aim and objects, since it allows rapid and precise installation
as it is already internally provided with the levers for actuating the shafts which
actuate the rotation of the footboard and/or headboard of the bed.
[0039] A further advantage is simplification of the manufacture of the base of the bed or
couch of this type.
[0040] Another advantage of the device according to the invention is that it can be fitted
without problems on the base of a couch or bed of any width.
[0041] The device thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations,
all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept; all the details may furthermore
be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.
[0042] In practice, the materials employed, as well as the dimensions, may be any according
to the requirements and the state of the art.
[0043] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs,
those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility
of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect
on the scope of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.
1. Device for inclining beds or couches having a base with a supporting intermediate
portion and with at least one end portion, constituting a headboard or footboard,
pivoted to said intermediate portion about a transverse axis, said device comprising
at least one main shaft arranged transversely to the extension of the base and rotatably
supported by said intermediate portion about its own axis, said main shaft being provided
with at least one transverse arm the free end whereof acts on the lower side of said
end portion for its rotation about said transverse axis upon the rotation of said
main shaft about its own axis; characterized in that it comprises a casing supporting
at least one lever rotatable about a rotation axis and actuation means acting on said
lever for its rotation about said rotation axis with respect to said casing, said
lever being detachably associable with said main shaft so that it rotates rigidly
together with said main shaft about the axis thereof, and wherein said axis of said
main shaft and said rotation axis substantially coincide.
2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said actuation means comprise at
least one gearmotor supported by said casing, with a threaded output shaft coupled
to a female thread defined in a slider which is slideable, along a direction transverse
to said rotation axis, within a guide formed inside said casing, said slider being
articulated about said rotation axis at the end of said lever which is opposite to
the end pivoted to said casing.
3. Device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said slider has, on
its side directed toward said lever, a slot elongated transversely with respect to
the sliding direction of the slider and to said rotation axis, a pin being coupled
in said slot and being connected to the end of said lever which is directed towards
said slider.
4. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a through
seat is defined in the end of said lever which is pivoted to said casing, said seat
extending around said rotation axis and being rigidly rotationally associable with
a connecting element which is movable axially along said main shaft and is rigidly
coupled to said main shaft in rotation about its axis.
5. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said
main shaft is made of two parts which are mutually axially aligned and arranged at
a distance which is greater than, or equal to, the thickness of said lever at said
through seat, said connecting element being constituted by a dowel which has a polygonal
or non-circular transverse cross-section and is slidingly accommodated in a correspondingly
shaped axial seat defined in said shaft, said dowel being insertable in said correspondingly
shaped through seat of the lever.
6. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said
main shaft is formed monolithically and in that the end of said lever in which said
through seat is defined and said casing have, at said lever, an opening for the insertion
of a portion of said shaft in said through seat, said connecting element being constituted
by a sleeve which is rigidly coupled to said main shaft in rotation about its axis
and is movable axially externally along said main shaft, said sleeve having a cross-section
with a polygonal or non-circular external profile which is coupleable to said correspondingly
shaped through seat by movement along the axis of said main shaft which coincides
with said rotation axis.
7. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said
casing is provided with a cover for closing the opening for the insertion of said
main shaft at said lever.
8. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said
casing supports two levers mutually spaced and rotatable about two mutually parallel
rotation axes, and independently acting actuation means, each of which acts on one
of said levers for its rotation about the related rotation axis with respect to said
casing, each lever being detachably rigidly rotationally associable with a main shaft
provided with arms acting on an end portion of the base for its rotation about a transverse
axis with respect to said intermediate portion of the base.
9. Base for a bed or couch with a variable-tilt headboard and/or footboard, of the type
comprising a structure with an intermediate supporting portion and with at least one
end portion, constituting the headboard or footboard, which is pivoted to said intermediate
portion about a transverse axis and with at least one main shaft arranged transversely
to the extension of the bedspring and rotatably supported by said intermediate portion
about its own axis, said main shaft being provided with at least one transverse arm
the free end whereof acts on the lower side of said end portion for its rotation about
said transverse axis upon the rotation of said main shaft about its own axis, characterized
in that it comprises a device, according to one or more of the preceding claims, for
varying the tilt of the headboard and/or footboard.