NL2013052B1 - Portable sleeping device for a person. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a portable sleeping device for a person, comprising a housing; a drawer, connected to the housing, which drawer comprises a drawer floor part for supporting at least a part of a person, which drawer is moveable between at least a retracted state, wherein the drawer floor part is substantially covered by the housing, and an extended state, wherein at least a part of the drawer floor part is uncovered by the housing, such that the person can take place in the drawer; and a moveable roof, cooperating with the housing and/or the drawer, which roof is moveable between a first state, wherein at least a part of the drawer floor part is uncovered by the roof, such that the person can take place in the drawer, and a second state, wherein the drawer floor part is substantially covered by the moveable roof.

Description

Portable sleeping device for a person

The present invention relates to a portable sleeping device for a person.

Portable sleeping devices for persons are known form the prior art, and usually consists of portable tents which are difficult to put up. Also, such tents are not very efficient, since they take up a lot of additional space besides the space required for a person to sleep. Alternatively, one could just lay down a sleeping bag to sleep in, which does not provide cover from the elements.

It is therefore a goal of the present invention to overcome these drawbacks of the prior art, and provide a sleeping device for a person which protects the person from the elements.

The present invention thereto comprises a portable sleeping device for a person, comprising a housing; a drawer, connected to the housing, which drawer comprises a drawer floor part for supporting at least a part of a person, which drawer is moveable between at least a retracted state, wherein the drawer floor part is substantially covered by the housing, and an extended state, wherein at least a part of the drawer floor part is uncovered by the housing, such that the person can take place in the drawer; and a moveable roof, cooperating with the housing and/or the drawer, which roof is moveable between a first state, wherein at least a part of the drawer floor part is uncovered by the roof, such that the person can take place in the drawer, and a second state, wherein the drawer floor part is substantially covered by the moveable roof.

In the retracted state the portable sleeping device only takes up the space of the housing, since the drawer floor part of the drawer is substantially covered by the housing. The required space is increased when the drawer is extended to its extended space, wherein it allows a person to take place in the drawer. The extent to which the drawer is extended can be matched to the space that is required for the person. A tall person may require more space (in length at least) compared to a smaller person, and the taller person may therefore want to extend the drawer slightly further compared to the smaller person. In order to protect the person in the device from the elements, a roof can be moved over the part of the drawer that extends beyond the housing in the extended state, which is thus not covered by the housing. After moving the roof to the second state wherein the floor part of the drawer is covered by the roof, the person inside the sleeping device is protected from the elements by the housing and the roof. The drawer may also comprise upright walls on at least three sides of the drawer, to enclose the person inside the drawer at least partially. The side of the drawer facing towards the housing, in extended state, is typically at least partially open.

The moveable roof can for instance be a plate-like sheet, which is substantially rigid, but can also be flexible such that it can be rolled up to a state in which the roof does not take up a lot of room. To guide the moveable roof during movement, the housing and/or the drawer may be provided with guiding element, for instance a rails or U-profiles.

This ensures that the moveable roof is moveable between preferential positions and that the roof is kept in place. To further keep the roof in place, the housing, the drawer and/or the roof itself may be provided with locking element, which lock the roof in the first and/or second state.

The housing may comprise a housing floor part, wherein the drawer and housing floor part form a surface which is adjustable in length, for instance such that a person inside the device is positioned of the ground in the drawer as well as under the housing. In the retracted state the first and housing floor parts may be located on top of each other in order to save space. In an extended state, the first and housing floor parts may overlap at least partially and together provide a surface on which the person in the device may lie down on. The surface is adjustable in length by changing the degree in which the two floor parts overlap. In order to prevent moisture from the ground the penetrate the device through the transition between the first and housing floor parts, a watertight seal may be provided between the first and housing floor part. Such seal is for instance formed of a rubber layer under the drawer floor part of the drawer, a rubber layer on top of the housing floor part of the housing or a rubber transition piece between both floor parts.

The housing, the drawer and/or the roof can be made of a waterproof material.

Protection from the elements is usually required when it rains. Making the different components of the device out of waterproof material not only keeps the person inside the device dry, it also keeps the device itself dry, which prolongs the lifespan of the device and prevents rotting and other deterioration processes. However, it is also possible to make the device from other materials if the situation requires so. For instance, using the devices in very warm climates may require heat insulting materials, to keep the heat out as much as possible.

The housing and the drawer can for instance be made from cardboard or pressed starch which have been waterproofed, for instance by a waterproof coating. The average thickness of the material may be in the range of 2-8 mm, preferably between 3-6 mm, such that the device has a weight of about 10-40 kilogram, preferably between 10-30 kg. Such materials are especially suitable for festivals, when the device is only required to last a number of days. When the sleeping device is to be used for longer periods of time, for instance to harbour asylum seekers, the device can be made from more robust materials, such as metal, wood or plastic (such as polyester). The sleeping device is portable, such that it can be used for instance on festival terrains, wherein the devices can be placed on requires locations. To do so, the weight of the sleeping device should be such that it is portable.

The moveable roof may be extendable, in particular by sliding or telescoping, between the first and second state. In this way the movement of the roof is similar to the movement of the drawer, and operation of the complete device is intuitive.

The moveable roof may comprise multiple mutually connected segments in order to facilitate such movement, wherein the multiple segments are for instance moveable with respect to each other. If the roof only needs a little extending, only one of the segments could be extended, whereas if the complete drawer is pulled out of the housing, more segments may be needed in order to cover the floor part of the drawer.

The moveable roof preferably extends at an angle compared to the first and/or housing floor part, preferably at an angle between 2 and 45 degrees, and more in particular between 2 and 15 degrees. A sloping roof, in particular at the mentioned angles, provides for a roof which allows rainwater to slide off by gravity. This helps to keep the inside of the sleeping device dry (when covered).

The moveable roof may, in the first state, be substantially covered by the housing. In the first state, at least a part of the drawer floor part is uncovered by the roof, such that the person can take place in the drawer. By having the roof inside the housing in the first state, damaging of the roof when it is not used is prevented, and unnecessary wear is reduced.

In the second state the moveable roof may extends beyond the drawer, such that the drawer is completely covered by the roof and the housing. The roof is then typically larger and/or wider compared to the portion of the drawer that is covered by the roof. If the sleeping device is for instance subjected to rain, this extending roof creates a somewhat larger safety zone to keep the sleeping device beneath the roof dry.

The sleeping device may also comprise at least two wheels, for the transportation of the sleeping device. The wheel may be located on either the housing, the drawer or both. The wheels are in particular located on the housing, to allow transportation of the sleeping device in its retracted state. The housing typically a bottom side (in contact with the ground), an upper side located opposite to the bottom, an open side which allows connection with the drawer and a closed side opposite to the open side. The wheels are, in this case, preferably located on the closed side. In this way, the wheels do not form an obstruction with respect to the ground or the topside of the device when in use.

The sleeping device may comprise at least one ventilation opening, to allow for a sufficient airflow through the sleeping device. This opening may be present in the drawer or the housing. The opening is preferably provided with a screen, such that bugs and other unwanted intruders are not able to enter the sleeping device.

The housing may be substantially beam-shaped and the drawer may be substantially U-shaped. The U-shape can be supported on three sides by the beam-shape of the housing, to allow for a sturdy support. The U-shaped drawer may also comprise an upstanding sidewall on the side of the U-shaped drawer facing away from the housing when the drawer is in the extended state.

The drawer may be moveable such that the total length of the first and housing floor parts is extendable between at least 1 and 2 meters. In this way the length of the device, when not in use, can be around 1 meters, while keeping it possible to accommodate people inside the device up to 2 meters in height. The drawer may have a height of about 55 cm and a width of about 70 cm.

The invention will now be elucidated into more detail with reference to the following non-limitative figures, wherein: figure 1 schematically shows an embodiment with the different parts according to the present invention; and figure 2 schematically shows a different drawer according to the present invention; and figure 3 schematically shows an embodiment of the movement of the moveable roof according to the present invention; and figure 4 schematically shows an embodiment of a sleeping device in fully retracted state according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a portable sleeping device (1) for a person, comprising a housing (2); a drawer (3), connected to the housing (2), which drawer (3) comprises a drawer floor part (4) for supporting at least a part of a person, which drawer (3) is moveable between at least a retracted state (see C), wherein the drawer floor part (4) is substantially covered by the housing (2), and an extended state (see D), wherein at least a part of the drawer floor part (4) is uncovered by the housing (2), such that the person can take place in the drawer (3). Figure 1 further shows a moveable roof (5), cooperating with the housing (2), which roof (2) is moveable in the same direction as the drawer (3) as well as the housing floor part (14) of the housing (2).

The housing (2) is shown substantially beam-shaped, whereas the drawer (3) is shown substantially U-shaped.

Figure 2 shows a similar device compared to figure 1, wherein the drawer (3) is provided with an additional upright wall (6). The other elements function as shown in figure 1. The additional wall (6) provided additional protection against the elements.

Figure 3 shows a sleeping device (1), comprising a housing (2), a drawer (3), a drawer floor part (4) and a moveable roof (5). The moveable roof (5) is extendable between the first (see E) and second state (see F), wherein the moveable roof (5), in the first state (see E), is substantially covered by the housing (2), and the drawer floor part (4) is substantially uncovered by the roof (5) such that a person can take place in the drawer (3), and a second state (see F), wherein the drawer floor part (4) is substantially covered by the moveable roof (5). In the shown embodiment the moveable roof (5), in the second state (see F), extends beyond the drawer (3), such that the drawer (3) is completely covered by the roof (5) and the housing (2), at least from above.

Figure 4 shows a portable sleeping device (1) for a person in a retracted state. The housing (2) of the device (1) is provided with two ventilation openings (7) on one side of the beam-shaped housing (2), and with four wheels (8). The housing (2) as shown comprises a bottom side (9), in contact with the ground, an upper side (10) located opposite to the bottom, side walls (11), an open side (not shown) and a closed side (12) opposite to the open side. The wheels are (8), in this case, located on the closed side (12). In this way, the wheels (8) do not form an obstruction with respect to the ground or the topside (10) of the device (1) when in use.

Claims (15)

A portable sleeping device for a person, comprising: a housing; and a drawer connected to the housing, which drawer comprises a drawer floor part for supporting at least a part of a person, which drawer is movable between at least one retracted state, the drawer floor part being substantially covered by the housing, and a extended state, wherein at least a part of the drawer floor part is not covered by the housing, such that the person can take place in the drawer; and a movable roof, cooperating with the housing and / or the drawer, which roof is movable between a first condition, wherein at least a part of the drawer floor part is not covered by the roof, such that the person can take place in the drawer, and a second state, wherein the drawer floor part is substantially covered by the movable roof. A portable sleeping device according to claim 1, wherein the housing is a housing floor part because, wherein the drawer and the housing floor part form a length-adjustable surface. Portable sleeping device according to claim 2, comprising a watertight seal between the drawer and the housing floor part. Portable sleeping device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing, the drawer and / or the roof are made of a waterproof material. A portable sleeping device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing and the drawer are made of waterproofed cardboard or compressed starch. A portable sleeping device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the movable roof is extendable between the first and second condition. Portable sleeping device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the movable roof comprises various mutually connected segments. A portable sleeping device according to claim 7, wherein the different segments are movable relative to each other. Portable sleeping device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the movable roof extends at an angle with respect to the drawer and / or the housing floor part, preferably at an angle between 2 and 45 degrees. A portable sleeping device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the movable roof, in the first state, is substantially within the housing. A portable sleeping device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the movable roof, in the second condition, extends beyond the drawer such that the drawer is completely covered by the roof and the housing. A portable sleeping device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least two wheels, for moving the sleeping device. Portable sleeping device according to one of the preceding claims, provided with at least one ventilation opening. A portable sleeping device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing is substantially beam-shaped; and the drawer is substantially U-shaped. A portable sleeping device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the drawer is movable such that the total length of the drawer and the housing floor part is extendable between at least 1 and 2 meters.