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EP 0 826 330 B1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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Mention of the grant of the patent: |
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02.01.2003 Bulletin 2003/01 |
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Date of filing: 28.08.1997 |
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International Patent Classification (IPC)7: A47D 7/03 |
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Cot
Kinderbett
Lit d'enfant
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Designated Contracting States: |
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AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE |
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Priority: |
28.08.1996 SE 9603110
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Date of publication of application: |
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04.03.1998 Bulletin 1998/10 |
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Proprietor: Björn-Ake Sköld Design AB |
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600 07 Norrköping (SE) |
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Inventor: |
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- Sköld, Björn-Ake
603 65 Norrköping (SE)
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Representative: Henningsson, Gunnar |
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AWAPATENT AB,
Box 45086 104 30 Stockholm 104 30 Stockholm (SE) |
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References cited: :
US-A- 4 706 312
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US-A- 5 361 432
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Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
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Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a child's bed or cot, in particular of the type
with bars, whose bottom can be placed in a number of vertical positions.
Field of the Invention
[0002] Often, it is possible to place the bottom of the child's beds which are used today
in a few different vertical positions. The reason for this is that while, for ergonomic
reasons, it is desirable that the child be lying as high up as possible in the bed,
the sides of the bed have to project sufficiently high above the bottom of the bed
to prevent the child from getting out of the bed on his own.
[0003] A common solution is that some type of attachment for the bottom of the bed is provided
in the bed posts which define the corners of the bed. When one wants to attach the
bottom of the bed at a different height, one first has to remove the bottom, move
the attachments, and then finally replace the bottom.
Object of the Invention
[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a child's bed or cot whose bed
bottom is easy to adjust vertically while maintaining high child safety.
Summary of the Invention
[0005] The object of the present invention is achieved by a child's bed or cot according
to the appended claims.
[0006] The basic idea of the present invention is to make it possible easily and safely
to adjust the bottom of the bed vertically to various positions which may be different
for the two ends of the bed, something which is achieved by a special design of controllable
means which support the bottom of the bed itself. Said means supporting the bottom
of the bed comprise support means which in turn comprise portions which extend in
a vertically adjustable manner through the end portions of the bed. Said portions
are arranged in associated vertical openings which are fitted with means for engagement
with said portions, thereby making it possible to hold the bottom of the bed in place
vertically at various, distinct heights.
[0007] Said support means portions are fitted with hand grips outside the end portions of
the bed. The engagement of the support means portions with said engagement means is
adapted to be adjustable (i.e. to be changed in order to change the vertical position
of the associated bed bottom end) only if two special operational measures are taken
for the respective support means portions, so that safety against unintentional change
is achieved. In the preferred embodiment, a support means portion first has to be
rotated around its longitudinal direction and then be displaced laterally in order
to be disengaged from the engagement means in question in the associated, vertical,
preferably slot-shaped opening in the bed end and then be moved to engagement with
another engagement means at another level in the vertical opening.
[0008] According to the invention, it is a preferred feature that said vertical openings
on the inside of the bed be fitted with protection means, which in a safety-enhancing
manner prevent a child who is in the bed from in an undesired way coming into contact
with, pinching himself or in some other manner be injured by the special construction
for adjustable support of the bottom of the bed.
[0009] Such protection means are advantageously arranged on said support means portions
and displaceably guided over said vertical openings, so that the parts of the latter
which are located above the bottom of the bed are always covered.
[0010] The present invention will be described in more detail below together with the description
of a preferred embodiment, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0011] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a child's bed according to
the present invention.
[0012] Fig. 2 is a schematic side view of the bed shown in Fig. 1.
[0013] Fig. 3 is an end plan view from the inside of the bed in Fig. 2.
[0014] Fig. 4 is a partial side view of the embodiment in Fig. 2.
[0015] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of means for supporting the bottom
of the bed according to the present invention.
[0016] Figs 6A and 6B are schematic partial views, partly in section, of the means in Fig.
5 together with parts of the bed bottom with which they coact.
[0017] Fig. 7 is a schematic view illustrating a preferred embodiment of a bed end opening
with engagement means according to the present invention.
[0018] Fig. 8 is a schematic view illustrating a preferred bed foot for use with the present
invention.
Description of a Preferred Embodiment
[0019] The Figures show a preferred embodiment of a child's bed or cot 1 according to the
present invention, comprising a bed bottom 3, side pieces 2, bed ends 20 and bed bottom
supporting means 4.
[0020] Said supporting means, which will be described in more detail below, comprise support
means in the form of bars 31, which are attached to the bed bottom, and vertical through
grooves or slots 21 with associated engagement recesses 22, each connected to the
associated vertical groove. The bars 31, which are arranged in pairs at each bed end,
are mounted in the bed bottom 3 by their inner ends and extend through their respective
bed ends 20 in the vertical grooves 21, so that the bars and thereby the bed bottom
3 can be displaced vertically. The bars can be held in the desired vertical position
by being caused to engage with a correspondingly chosen recess 22. In addition, the
bars are spring-loaded (see Fig. 5) so that they will be held in said recesses, which
minimises the risk of the bars being moved out of engagement by mistake. The recesses
22 should have a height which allows the bars 31 to rest in them even if the bars
are tilting, which is the case when the bed bottom is tilted. Since the bed bottom
3 is fixed to the bars 4, it, in turn, will be held in place vertically when the bars
4 are held in place vertically. Said supporting means also comprise manoeuvring handles
32 which are fixed to the projecting end of the respective bars 31.
[0021] The ends 33 of the bars 31 are supportingly mounted on the bed bottom 3 so that the
bars are both at least to a limited extent rotatable around their axes and at least
to a limited extent movable laterally, thereby permitting the movements required,
for the change of engagement, of the bar end parts passing through the vertical bed
end grooves, as will be seen below.
[0022] Fig. 3 shows one of the ends 20 of the child's bed 1 from the inside. At the bottom,
the end 1 is provided with two vertical grooves 21 with a suitable number of engagement
recesses 22, which are arranged vertically above each other and extend inwards towards
each other. The width of the grooves is somewhat larger than the diameter of the bars
31. When the bed 1 is in the working position (i.e. when the bars 31 are locked vertically),
the bars are resting in their respective recesses 22 in order to hold the bed bottom
ends at the desired height. When one wishes to change the vertical position of the
bed bottom 3 at either or both ends of the bed, one first has to move the bars in
pairs out of the recesses 22 to the vertical grooves 21 while overcoming the counteracting
spring force. When the bars are in their respective vertical grooves 21, one can then
raise or lower them according to what is desired. Subsequently, the bars are moved
into recesses 22 which are located at the new suitable height, whereby the bed 1 once
again is ready for use.
[0023] Fig 4 shows a corner portion of the bed seen from the side, from which can be seen
more clearly how the supporting bars 31 attached to the end 30 of the bed bottom 3
project through the end of the bed a short distance to allow easy operation without
detracting from its appearance and function.
[0024] In order to provide a high level of child safety with a suspension and operation
mechanism which is intended for the bed bottom and which is hidden from a child who
has been placed in the bed, covering protection means are arranged on the inside of
the bed ends in connection with the respective grooves 21 for the supporting bars
31. Thus, for each groove, there is a rectangular, upended cover plate 71, which is
connected to the associated bar 31 and which is displaceably guidably arranged in
a vertically extending undercut bed end recess 73, in whose bottom part the associated
through groove 21 has been made. The height of the cover plate 71 and the height and
location of the groove 21 are chosen so that when the bed bottom 3 is in its lowest
position, the cover plate just covers the whole groove 21 (seen from inside the bed).
When, subsequently, the bed bottom is lifted up to a higher position, the cover plate
is displaced upwards (together with the bed bottom) in the recess 73.
[0025] The coupling of the respective cover plate 71 to the associated bar 31 is illustrated
in Fig. 5. The bar 31 is inserted through a transverse slot opening 75 in the lower
end part of the cover plate 71, which slot opening 75 allows the bar to move laterally
relative to the cover plate in connection with the changing of the vertical position
of the bed bottom.
[0026] In addition, Fig. 5 schematically illustrates the spring bias of the bars 31 and
a locking mechanism for the bars.
[0027] Thus, the Figure shows two bars 31, whose ends 33 are rotatably and pivotally attached
in an arbitrary suitable manner to the bed bottom and between which is arranged a
tension spring 40. In addition, catch lugs 50 are arranged on the bars and coact with
the bed bottom as will be described in more detail below in connection with Figs 6A
and 6B. The spring 40 acts to pull the bars 31 towards each other so that they will
stay in their respective recesses 22 in the bed ends. In order to be able to change
the vertical position of the bed bottom, i.e. to be able to move the bars 31 vertically
by means of the handles 32, it is necessary to overcome the forces of the tension
spring 40 in order to move the respective bars laterally out of their engagement positions
in their respective recesses 22. The lugs 50 are arranged so that, first, it is necessary
to rotate the bars 31 around their axes by means of the handles 32, before one is
able to move the bars out into the grooves 21 by overcoming the spring forces. The
spring, and the fact that it is necessary to rotate the bars before it is possible
to break the engagement, provide enhanced security, since the risk that this will
happen by mistake is reduced. The spring force is adapted to an adult individual.
[0028] Figs 6A and 6B illustrate in more detail the arrangement which makes it necessary
to rotate the bars 31 before they can be moved out of the engagement position. One
of the lugs 50 is shown in Fig. 6A in its locked or blocked position and in Fig. 6B
in its free position after the rotating and lateral turning of the associated bar
31.
[0029] When the bars 31 are in the locked engagement position, the respective lugs 50 abut
against a stop 51, which advantageously is a bed bottom frame part. The normal abutting
of the lugs against the respective stops 51 prevents the bars 31 from being moved
apart out from the recesses (to the right in the Figure). In order for it to be possible
to move the bars apart, they first have to be rotated (clockwise in the Figure) so
that the lugs 50 no longer abut against the stops 51. Since the bars are connected
by means of a contracting spring, the lugs 50 will automatically snap into their abutment
position against the stops 51 when the bars are moved into the engagement position.
[0030] Fig. 7 illustrates a preferred design of end grooves 21 with associated recesses.
The latter have a horizontal entry part 25 and a vertical part 27 extending downwards
therefrom, which vertical part is adapted to receive a bar 31 independently of its
tilting, if any (when the bed bottom is tiltingly arranged).
[0031] Fig. 8 shows a bed foot 60 advantageously used in the bed according to the invention,
which foot is hollow and in which it is possible to place a bed leg 23 with a certain
amount of play. In the bed foot 60, a spring 61 is arranged, whose spring action is
directed essentially vertically. The fact that bed legs 23 are placed in the bed feet
60 with a certain amount of play in such a way that they rest on the springs 61 makes
it possible to rock the bed.
[0032] The above description of a preferred embodiment has been provided by way of example
only and should not be seen as limiting the scope of the present invention, which
is limited by the claims only.
[0033] There are a number of different embodiments of the present invention, all of which
fall within the scope of the inventive idea as it is stated in the appended claims.
[0034] For example, the recesses which have been described as horizontal in the description,
could just as well be angled in relation to the horizontal plane, so that, in pairs,
they form a V-like shape. Instead of having vertical through grooves, which are made
in the bed ends, it is possible to have end boards which are not as wide as the space
between the bed posts, whereby a vertical opening is formed between the end boards
and bed posts. Instead of employing a contracting spring for connecting the bars,
it is possible to achieve the same effect by using bars which in themselves are resilient
horizontally but not vertically, such as some type of flat bars, whereby, as will
be appreciated, the bed bottom ends of the bars only need to be mounted for rotation
around the longitudinal axis.
1. A child's bed or cot (1), preferably of the type with bars, comprising a bed bottom
(3), bed ends (20), side pieces (2) and supporting means (4), which are adapted to
support the bed bottom vertically in relation to the rest of the bed, said supporting
means (4) being designed so that the respective end parts (30) of the bed bottom (3)
are adjustable to different heights independently of each other, characterised in that said supporting means (4) at each bed end comprise separate support means (31) arranged
on the bed bottom (3) on each side and comprising portions, which are movably arranged
in and extend through respective essentially vertical slot-shaped openings (21) in
the bed ends, and engagement means (22) for coaction with said support means portions
in order to create a number of vertically defined engagement positions in connection
with said openings (21), and that means (40, 50, 51) are arranged in order to, after
achieving engagement between said support means portions and said engagement means
(22), secure the engagement against unintentional loosening.
2. A child's bed according to claim 1, characterised in that said securing means (40, 50, 51) are arranged so that the loosening of the engagement
between a support means portion and an engagement means (22) requires two consecutive,
different movement operations of the support means portions, preferably an initial
rotation of the support means portion around its longitudinal axis and then a lateral
displacement of the support means portion.
3. A child's bed according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it is provided with protection means (71, 73) for protectingly covering, above the
bed bottom, said vertical openings (21), preferably arranged on the inside of the
respective bed ends (20).
4. A child's bed according to claim 3, characterised in that said protection means adjacent to the respective vertical openings (21) comprise
an opening cover plate (71) which is connected to the bed bottom and/or the associated
said support means portion and which is displaceable along the bed end over the associated
vertical opening, preferably in a groove (73) arranged on the inside of the bed end.
5. A child's bed according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said engagement means (22) comprise recesses, which define vertical positions and
which are arranged adjacent to and are open to the associated vertical opening (21),
and that said recesses are adapted to receive said through support means portions
in order to engage therewith.
6. A child's bed according to claim 5, characterised in that said recesses comprise a horizontal portion (25) connecting to the associated vertical
opening (21) and a vertical portion (27), which is arranged so that said support means
portions rest therein in the engagement position.
7. A child's bed according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said support means portions are pretensioned to be held in the engagement position.
8. A child's bed according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the respective support means (31) comprise catch means (50), that the respective
support means (31) are axially rotatably arranged in the bed bottom (3), and that
said catch means (50) are adapted so that the respective support means (31) in the
engagement position have to be rotated in order for said catch means to withdraw from
a catch position and make it possible to disengage said support means (31).
1. Kinderbett bzw. -bettchen (1), vorzugsweise vom Typ mit Stäben, das einen Bett-Boden
(3), Bett-Stirnwände (20), Seitenteile (2) und Trageeinrichtungen (4) umfasst, die
den Bett-Boden vertikal in Beziehung auf den Rest des Bettes tragen, wobei die Trageeinrichtungen
(4) so ausgeführt sind, dass die entsprechenden Stirnwand-Teile (30) des Bett-Bodens
(3) unabhängig voneinander auf unterschiedliche Höhen eingestellt werden können, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Trageeinrichtungen (4) an jeder Bett-Stirnwand separate Trageeinrichtungen (31),
die an dem Bett-Boden (3) an jeder Seite angeordnet sind und Abschnitte umfassen,
die beweglich in entsprechenden, im Wesentlichen vertikalen schlitzförmigen Öffnungen
(21) in den Bett-Stirnwänden angeordnet sind und sich durch sie hindurch erstrecken,
und Eingriffseinrichtungen (22) umfassen, die mit den Trageeinrichtungsabschnitten
zusammenwirken, um eine Reihe vertikal ausgebildeter Eingriffspositionen in Verbindung
mit den Öffnungen (21) zu bestimmen, und dass Einrichtungen (40, 50, 51) angeordnet
sind, um nach Herstellung von Eingriff zwischen den Trageeinrichtungsabschnitten und
den Eingriffseinrichtungen (22) den Eingriff gegen unbeabsichtigtes Lösen zu sichern.
2. Kinderbett nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Sicherungseinrichtungen (40, 50, 51) so angeordnet sind, dass das Lösen des Eingriffs
zwischen einem Trageeinrichtungsabschnitt und einer Eingriffseinrichtung (22) zwei
aufeinanderfolgende unterschiedliche Bewegungsvorgänge der Trageeinrichtungsabschnitte
erforderlich macht, vorzugsweise eine anfängliche Drehung des Trageeinrichtungsabschnittes
um seine Längsachse herum und anschließend eine seitliche Verschiebung des Trageeinrichtungsabschnitts.
3. Kinderbett nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es mit Schutzeinrichtungen (71, 73) versehen ist, die die vertikalen Öffnungen (21)
über dem Bett-Boden schützend abdecken und vorzugsweise an der Innenseite der entsprechenden
Bett-Stirnwände (20) angeordnet sind.
4. Kinderbett nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Schutzeinrichtungen an die entsprechenden vertikalen Öffnungen (21) angrenzend
eine Öffnungsabdeckplatte (71) umfassen, die mit dem Bett-Boden und/oder dem dazugehörigen
Trageeinrichtungsabschnitt verbunden ist und die entlang der Bett-Stirnwand über die
dazugehörige vertikale Öffnung vorzugsweise in einer Nut (73) verschoben werden kann,
die an der Innenseite der Bett-Stirnwand angeordnet ist.
5. Kinderbett nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Eingriffseinrichtungen (22) Aussparungen umfassen, die vertikale Positionen bestimmen
und die an die dazugehörige vertikale Öffnung (21) angrenzend angeordnet und zu ihr
offen sind, und dass die Aussparungen die Trageeinrichtungsabschnitte aufnehmen, um
damit in Eingriff zu kommen.
6. Kinderbett nach Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Aussparungen einen horizontalen Abschnitt (25), der Verbindung mit der dazugehörigen
vertikalen Öffnung (21) herstellt, und einen vertikalen Abschnitt (27) umfassen, der
so angeordnet ist, dass die Trageeinrichtungsabschnitte in der Eingriffsposition darin
aufliegen.
7. Kinderbett nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Trageeinrichtungsabschnitte so vorgespannt sind, dass sie in der Eingriffsposition
gehalten werden.
8. Kinderbett nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die jeweiligen Trageeinrichtungen (31) Arretiereinrichtungen (50) umfassen, dass
die jeweiligen Trageeinrichtungen (31) axial drehbar in dem Bett-Boden angeordnet
sind, und dass die Arretiereinrichtungen (50) so ausgeführt sind, dass die jeweiligen
Trageeinrichtungen (31) in der Eingriffsposition gedreht werden müssen, damit sich
die Arretiereinrichtungen aus einer Arretierposition zurückziehen und es möglich machen,
die Trageeinrichtungen (31) zu lösen.
1. Lit d'enfant ou couchette (1), de préférence du type muni de barreaux, comprenant
un fond (3) de lit, des extrémités (20) de lit, des pièces latérales (2) et un dispositif
de support (4) destiné à supporter le fond du lit verticalement par rapport au reste
du lit, le dispositif de support (4) étant réalisé afin que les parties respectives
d'extrémité (30) du fond (3) du lit soient réglables à différentes hauteurs indépendamment
l'une de l'autre, caractérisé en ce que le dispositif de support (4) placé à chaque extrémité du lit comporte des dispositifs
séparés de support (31) placés sur le fond (3) du lit de chaque côté et comportant
des parties disposées afin qu'elles soient mobiles dans des ouvertures respectives
(21) essentiellement verticales en forme de fente et passent dans ces ouvertures qui
sont formées aux extrémités du lit, et des dispositifs (22) de coopération avec les
parties de dispositif de support pour la création d'un certain nombre de positions
de coopération délimitées verticalement en coopération avec les ouvertures (21), et
un dispositif (40, 50, 51) est incorporé de manière que, après la mise en coopération
des parties de dispositif de support et des dispositifs de coopération (22), il assure
le maintien de la coopération en empêchant une libération intempestive.
2. Lit d'enfant selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le dispositif de fixation (40, 50, 51) est disposé afin que la libération de la coopération
entre une partie de dispositif de support et un dispositif de coopération (22) nécessite
deux opérations consécutives ayant des mouvements différents des parties de dispositif
de support, de préférence une rotation initiale de la partie de dispositif de support
autour de son axe longitudinal puis un déplacement latéral de la partie de dispositif
de support.
3. Lit d'enfant selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte un dispositif de protection (71, 73) destiné à recouvrir de manière protectrice,
au-dessus du fond du lit, les ouvertures verticales (21) de préférence disposées à
l'intérieur des extrémités respectives (20) du lit.
4. Lit d'enfant selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que le dispositif de protection adjacent aux ouvertures verticales respectives (21) comporte
une plaque (71) de couverture d'ouvertures qui est raccordée au fond du lit et/ou
à la partie associée de dispositif de support et qui est mobile le long de l'extrémité
du lit sur une ouverture verticale associée, de préférence dans une gorge (73) disposée
à l'intérieur de l'extrémité du lit.
5. Lit d'enfant selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le dispositif de coopération (22) comporte des cavités qui déterminent des positions
verticales et qui sont disposées près de l'ouverture verticale associée (21) et débouchent
vers cette ouverture, et en ce que les cavités sont destinées à loger les parties de dispositif de support pour coopérer
avec elles.
6. Lit d'enfant selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que les cavités comportent une partie horizontale (25) qui se raccorde à l'ouverture
verticale associée (21) et une partie verticale (27) disposée afin que les parties
de dispositif de support soient en appui à l'intérieur en position de coopération.
7. Lit d'enfant selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que les parties de dispositifs de support sont soumises à une tension préalable afin
qu'elles soient maintenues dans la position de coopération.
8. Lit d'enfant selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que les dispositifs respectifs de support (31) comportent un dispositif d'accrochage
(50), les dispositifs respectifs de support (31) sont disposés afin qu'ils puissent
tourner axialement dans le fond (3) du lit, et les dispositifs d'accrochage (50) sont
réalisés de manière que le dispositif respectif de support (31), en position de coopération,
doive être tourné pour que le dispositif d'accrochage soit retiré d'une position d'accrochage
et pour qu'il soit possible de dégager le dispositif de support (31).