US20190191889A1

US20190191889A1 - Transforming bed with a movable sleeping section and an extendable support

Info

Publication number: US20190191889A1
Application number: US16/247,300
Authority: US
Inventors: Iqbal Singh Flora
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-12-21
Filing date: 2019-01-14
Publication date: 2019-06-27

Abstract

A cabinet bed that includes a movable spacer, attached to an extendable support (e.g., a movable drawer), for supporting a movable sleeping section and/or includes at least one laterally extending slidable guide to maintain the extendable support in alignment with the movable sleeping section. For example, the cabinet bed may include the movable spacer that is pivotably attached to the extendable support underneath the movable sleeping section when in a horizontal position. The cabinet bed may also include a pair of laterally extending slidable guides extending from each side of the extendable support and/or a second pair of laterally extending slidable glides extending toward a respective side of the extendable support to maintain the extendable support in alignment with the movable sleeping section.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Design Application No. 29/630,628 filed Dec. 21, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to beds, and more particularly to folding beds.

BACKGROUND

Beds can take up a large amount of floor space within a room. Some beds are foldable so that when the bed is not in use less space is required.
For example, some beds include a foldable mattress support and an extending drawer that supports part of the mattress support. Some of these extending drawers include a front cover that extends high enough to provide support for part of the foldable mattress support when the foldable mattress support is horizontal.
Also, previously known extending drawers have been connected to another part of the bed. For example, the sides of some extending drawers are connected via telescoping rails to sides of a lower part of the bed. Other extending drawers are not connected to the lower part of the bed via telescoping rails, instead such other extending drawers are connected to the lower part of the bed via folding/pivoting extension panels.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present application provides a cabinet bed that includes a movable spacer, attached to an extendable support (e.g., a movable drawer), for supporting a movable sleeping section and/or includes at least one laterally extending slidable guide to maintain the extendable support in alignment with the movable sleeping section. For example, the cabinet bed may include the movable spacer that is pivotably attached to the extendable support underneath the movable sleeping section when in a horizontal position. The cabinet bed may also include a pair of laterally extending slidable guides extending from each side of the extendable support and/or a second pair of laterally extending slidable glides extending toward a respective side of the extendable support to maintain the extendable support in alignment with the movable sleeping section.
The movable spacer may move to a support position where the movable sleeping section, when in the horizontal position, would rest on the movable spacer. The movable spacer may allow the extendable support to easily move from underneath a cabinet floor and provide support for the movable sleeping section when in an extended position. Also, the movable spacer enables the movable sleeping section to be more evenly supported than would otherwise be provided with an extendable support without the spacer.
For example, a portion of the extendable support that is movable from a position underneath a cabinet floor may be vertically spaced from the cabinet floor and the movable spacer may be movable to a position higher than the portion of the extendable support. In an embodiment, when the movable spacer is in the support position and the movable sleeping section is in the horizontal position, the top surface of the movable spacer would be coplanar with the bottom surface of the movable sleeping section and the top surface of the movable sleeping section would be coplanar with the top surface of the cabinet floor.
The laterally extending slidable guides may allow the extendable support to remain aligned with the movable sleeping section without connecting to any part of the cabinet bed that defines an extendable support receiving opening that the extendable support is disposed within when in a retracted position. The laterally extending slidable guides may enable the extendable support to be aligned during use while not connected to another part of the cabinet bed. For example, the laterally extending slidable guides may include wheels that are rotatable about an axis parallel with a corresponding side of the extendable support.
The cabinet bed may include a pair of supports that are each pivotably attached to a respective lateral side of the movable sleeping section. For example, the pair of supports may be pivotable about an axis that is parallel with a longitudinal axis of the movable sleeping section when the movable sleeping section is in the horizontal position.
According to one aspect of the invention, an apparatus for transforming between a bed and a cabinet, comprises a rear cabinet panel, a cabinet top attached to the rear cabinet panel along a top edge of the rear cabinet panel, a first cabinet side attached to the rear cabinet panel along a first side edge of the rear cabinet panel, a second cabinet side attached to the rear cabinet panel along a second side edge, of the rear cabinet panel, opposite the first side edge, a cabinet floor, a movable sleeping section that is movable from a first position to a horizontal position where the movable sleeping section would be parallel with the cabinet floor. When the movable sleeping section is in the horizontal position the cabinet floor and the movable sleeping section would be arranged to together support a mattress. The apparatus may further include a base comprising an extendable support receiving opening, an extendable support that is movable from a retracted position within the extendable support receiving opening to an extended position at least partially outside of the extendable support receiving opening, when in the extended position the extendable support would be underneath the movable sleeping section when the movable sleeping section is in the horizontal position, and a first movable spacer that is movably attached to the extendable support, wherein the first movable spacer is movable from a first position, where a topmost surface of the first movable spacer is below an upward facing surface of the cabinet floor, to a second position where the topmost surface is higher than when in the first position. When the extendable support is in the extended position the first movable spacer may support the movable sleeping section when the movable sleeping section is in the horizontal position.
According to another aspect of the invention, an apparatus for transforming between a bed and a cabinet, comprises a rear cabinet panel, a cabinet top attached to the rear cabinet panel along a top edge of the rear cabinet panel, a first cabinet side attached to the rear cabinet panel along a first side edge of the rear cabinet panel, a second cabinet set attached to the rear cabinet panel along a second side edge, of the rear cabinet panel, opposite the first side edge, a cabinet floor, a movable sleeping section that is movable from a first position to a horizontal position where the movable sleeping section would be parallel with the cabinet floor. When the movable sleeping section is in the horizontal position the cabinet floor and the movable sleeping section would be arranged to together support a mattress. The apparatus may further include a base comprising an extendable support receiving opening, and an extendable support that is movable from a retracted position within the extendable support receiving opening to an extended position at least partially outside of the extendable support receiving opening. When in the extended position the extendable support would be underneath the movable sleeping section when the movable sleeping section is in the horizontal position, and the extendable support includes a first laterally extending slidable guide protruding laterally from a first side of the extendable support toward a first side of the base, and includes a second laterally extending slidable guide protruding laterally from a second side of the extendable support toward a second side of the base.
The foregoing and other features of the invention are hereinafter described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an oblique side view of an example of a cabinet bed in a closed position.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the cabinet bed of FIG. 1 in the closed position.

FIG. 3 is an oblique side view of the cabinet bed of FIG. 1 in an open state.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the cabinet bed of Fig. in the closed position.

FIG. 5 is an oblique rear top view of a drawer of the cabinet bed of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an oblique front view of a portion of the cabinet bed of FIG. 1 without the drawer.

FIG. 7 is an oblique top view of the cabinet bed of FIG. 1 with a cabinet top opened and in a locked state.

FIG. 8 is an oblique front view of the cabinet bed of FIG. 7 with the drawer opened.

FIG. 9 is an oblique front view of the cabinet bed of FIG. 7 including a movable spacer between its initial position and a support position.

FIG. 10 is an oblique front view of the cabinet bed of FIG. 9 where the movable spacer is in the support position.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the cabinet bed of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the cabinet bed of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is an oblique front view of the cabinet bed of FIG. 10 in an unlocked state and including a movable sleeping section that is between its closed position and a fully open position.

FIG. 14 is an oblique front view of the cabinet bed of FIG. 13 where the movable sleeping section includes a cabinet front wall that is supported on the drawer.

FIG. 15 is an oblique front view of the cabinet bed of FIG. 14 where support legs of the movable sleeping section are pivoted to an extended position.

FIG. 16 is an oblique front view of the cabinet bed of FIG. 15 in a fully open position.

FIG. 17 is a side view of the cabinet bed of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a bottom view of the cabinet bed of FIG. 16.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The principles of this present application have particular application to cabinet beds, such as cabinet beds with the appearance of a large pair of doors and a lower drawer, and thus will be described below chiefly in this context. It will be appreciated that principles of this invention may be applicable to other foldable beds, such as having the appearance of a chest of drawers or a single upper door with a bottom base.
Referring now to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-2, an example of a cabinet bed is designated generally by reference numeral 20. The cabinet bed 20 includes an upper cabinet 22, a base 24, and a movable sleeping section 26 that is movable into a horizontal position to support a mattress (not illustrated).
Turning to FIG. 3, the upper cabinet 22 includes a cabinet top 36, cabinet sides 38 and 40, a rear cabinet panel 42, and a cabinet floor 44. The upper cabinet 22 may include a central back support 46 that extends from the cabinet floor 44 to the cabinet top 36. In an embodiment, the upper cabinet does not include the central back support.
The cabinet top 36 may include a rear part 60 and a front part 62 that is pivotable relative to the rear part 60. For example, the cabinet top 36 includes hinges 64 that hingedly connect the front part 62 to the rear part 60. The hinge 60 may bisect the cabinet top 36. In an embodiment, only a single hinge hingedly connects the front part to the rear part. In another embodiment, the cabinet top is a single rigid panel.
The cabinet sides 38 and 40 may each be orthogonal to the rear cabinet panel 42, the cabinet floor 44, and the cabinet top 36 when the cabinet top 36 is in a horizontal position. The cabinet sides 38 and 40 may be attached along opposite side edges of the cabinet floor 44 and attached along opposite side edges of the cabinet top 36. For example, the cabinet sides 38 and 40 are laterally spaced from one another and attached to opposite sides of the cabinet floor 44 and attached to opposite sides of the rear part 60 of the cabinet top 36.
The rear cabinet panel 42 may be attached along its top and bottom edges to the cabinet top 36 and the cabinet floor 44, respectively, and may be attached along its side edges to the cabinet sides 38 and 40. For example, the rear cabinet panel 42 is entirely circumscribed by, orthogonal to, and attached to the cabinet sides 38 and 40, the cabinet floor 44, and the rear part 60 of the cabinet top 36.
The base 24 may include a bottom drawer 66 with a drawer front 68, base side panels 70 and 72 (illustrated in FIG. 6), and a base back panel 74 (illustrated in FIG. 4). The bottom drawer 66 is movable from inside of to outside of a drawer receiving opening delineated by the base side panels 70 and 72, the cabinet floor 44, and the base back panel 74. For example, when in the closed position shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the entire part of the bottom drawer 66 rearward of the drawer front 68 is underneath the cabinet floor 44 and the drawer front 68 abuts the front of the base side panels 70 and 72. When the bottom drawer 66 is open, as shown in FIG. 3, the drawer front 68 is spaced in front of the base side panels 70 and 72 to provide support for the movable sleeping section 26 when in the horizontal position.
The base 24 has a smaller footprint than the upper cabinet 22. For example, the cabinet sides 38 and 40 are offset outside of the base side panels 70 and 72 and the cabinet floor 44 extends laterally beyond the base side panels 70 and 72.
The base side panels 70 and 72 may each include a joining member 80 and 82 (shown in FIG. 6) and include a lateral spacer 84 and 86 (shown in FIG. 6). For example, the joining members 80 and 82 and the lateral spacers 84 and 86 have rectangular prism shapes. Also, the joining members 80 and 82 attach a top of the corresponding base side panel 70 or 72 to the cabinet floor 44, along a corresponding side edge of the cabinet floor 44 laterally inward from the corresponding cabinet side 38 or 40.
Referring now to FIG. 5 in addition to FIG. 3, the bottom drawer 66 includes the drawer front 68, the drawer side panels 90 and 92 (shown in FIG. 5), movable spacers 94 and 96, a drawer back panel 98, and a drawer bottom panel 100. For example, the drawer side panels 90 and 92 are parallel to one another and orthogonal to the drawer front 68, the drawer back panel 98, and the drawer bottom panel 100. In an embodiment the drawer does not include movable spacers. In another embodiment, the drawer only includes one movable spacer. In yet another embodiment, the drawer includes more than two movable spacers.
The movable spacers 94 and 96 are movably attached to corresponding drawer side panel 90 or 92. For example, each movable spacer 94 and 96 is a mirror image of the other and pivotably attached by hinges 102 to the corresponding drawer side panel 90 or 92.
Each movable spacer 94 and 96 is movable from a first position (e.g., as shown in FIG. 8—where a topmost surface of the movable spacer 94 or 96 is below an upward facing surface and a downward facing surface of the cabinet floor 44) to a support position (e.g., (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 5 and 10—where the topmost surface is higher than when in the first position). When the bottom drawer 66 is opened into an extended position, the movable spacers 94 and 96 are each in the support position, and movable sleeping section 26 is in the horizontal position, the movable spacers 94 and 96 provide support to the movable sleeping section 26.
For example, the movable spacers 94 and 96 are each configured to pivot about a corresponding axis that is parallel to a length of the movable sleeping section 26 when the movable sleeping section 26 is in the horizontal position. In an embodiment, at least one movable spacer is configured to pivot about another axis, such as an axis perpendicular to the length of the movable sleeping section when the movable sleeping section is in the horizontal position
Still referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, the movable spacers 94 and 96 may each extend along the axis that each pivots about. For example, each movable spacer 94 and 96 has a rectangular prism shape, and when in the support position each movable spacer 94 and 96 has an upwardly facing major surface with a length longer than its width, which is thicker than the depth of the corresponding movable spacer 94 and 96.
In an embodiment, at least one of the movable spacers has another shape.
Referring now to FIGS. 4-6, the base 24 may include laterally extending guides 120, 122, 124, and 126 (all illustrated in FIG. 4) that maintain the alignment of the bottom drawer 66 with the movable sleeping section 26. For example, the bottom drawer 66 includes laterally extending guides 120 or 122 that protrude laterally outward from the corresponding drawer side panel 90 and 92 and are slidable along the corresponding base side panel 70 or 72 when the bottom drawer 66 moves forward or backward. Also, each laterally extending guide 124 and 126 extends laterally inward from the corresponding base side panel 70 or 72 and allows the corresponding drawer side panel 90 or 92 to slide along the corresponding laterally extending guide 124 or 126 when the bottom drawer 66 moves forward or backward.
Each laterally extending guides 124 and 126 may limit forward movement of the corresponding laterally extending guide 120 or 122 at a predetermined distance from the base back panel 74 of the base 24. For example, the laterally extending guides 120, 122, 124, and 126 are disposed within a single plane that is parallel with the ground. The laterally extending guides 120 and 122 are disposed at the rear of the corresponding drawer side panel 90 or 92 and the laterally extending guides 124 and 126 are disposed at the front of the corresponding base side panel 70 or 72. When the bottom drawer 66 moves forward a predetermined distance from its closed position the laterally extending guides 120 and 122 move into contact with the laterally extending guides 124 and 126.
The laterally extending guides 120, 122, 124, and 126 enable the bottom drawer 66 to be aligned with the movable sleeping section 26 when moving rearward or forward without connecting the bottom drawer 66 to any part of the cabinet bed 20 that defines the drawer receiving opening. For example, the bottom drawer 66 is not connected to the base side panels 70 and 72, the base back panel 74, and the cabinet floor 44.
The laterally extending guides 120, 122, 124, and 126 may be identical to one another. For example, each laterally extending guide 120, 122, 124, and 126 may include a wheel 128, 130, 132, or 134 that is contacts the corresponding base side panel 70 or 72 or drawer side panel 90 or 92. Each wheel 128, 130, 132, and 134 may be rotatable about a respective axis (e.g., aligned with a corresponding pin 136, 138, 140, or 142) parallel with one another and/or the corresponding drawer side panel 90 or 92.
In an embodiment, the laterally extending guides are not identical to one another. In another embodiment, the base does not include any laterally extending guides. In yet another embodiment, the bottom drawer includes laterally outwardly extending guides and does not include laterally extending guides that protrude laterally inward from the base side panels. In another embodiment, the base side panels include laterally inwardly extending guides and does not include laterally extending guides that protrude laterally outward from the bottom drawer.
Referring now to only FIG. 4, the bottom drawer 66 includes bottom castors or wheels 170 to allow easy sliding along the floor when the bottom drawer 66 moves from the closed position to the open position. In an embodiment, the bottom drawer includes another sliding mechanism. In another embodiment, the bottom drawer does not include a sliding mechanism.
As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, the drawer front 68 and the mattress platform 26 may include decorative features. For example, the bottom drawer 66 includes knobs or handles 172 of suitable decor, which may be chosen to match handles 174 of the movable sleeping section 26. The movable sleeping section 26 includes a decorative front contour 176 such as an inward bevel or an outward bevel to provide the appearance that the movable sleeping section 26 is divided into two sections such as cabinet doors or drawers. In an embodiment, none of the above decorative features are included. In another embodiment, the movable sleeping section does not include the decorative front contouring. In yet another embodiment, two or more decorative front contours are provided to the movable sleeping section to provide the appearance that the movable sleeping section is divided into three or more sections.
Also, each base side panel 70 and 72 (illustrated in FIG. 4) includes adjustable feet 180 (also identified in FIG. 6) that are configured to raise and lower corresponding portions of the corresponding base side panel 70 or 72. In an embodiment, the feet may be fixed. In another embodiment, the base side panels may not include feet.
Referring again to FIG. 3, the movable sleeping section 26 includes a front cabinet panel 200 and an inside front panel 202. The front cabinet panel 200 is pivotable relative to the cabinet floor 44 from a closed position to an open position. For example, the front cabinet panel 200 is hingedly attached to the cabinet floor 44 and can move from a vertical closed position (exemplified in FIG. 1) to a horizontal open position (exemplified in FIG. 3) where front cabinet panel 200 is parallel with the cabinet floor 44.
The inside front panel 202 is movable relative to the front cabinet panel 200 from an inverted position (exemplified in FIG. 14)—parallel with the front cabinet panel 200—to an upright position (exemplified in FIG. 3)—parallel with the front cabinet panel 200. For example, the inside front panel 202 is hingedly attached to the front cabinet panel 200 at an end opposite the cabinet floor 44. When the front cabinet panel 200 is in the horizontal open position, the inside front panel 202 is movable to an upright horizontal position where the inside front panel 202, the front cabinet panel 200, and the cabinet floor 44 are arranged parallel to one another and have coplanar upward facing surfaces to together support the mattress (not illustrated).
The upper cabinet 22 may include locking mechanisms 210 (also illustrated in FIG. 7), such as easy to operate latches and/or bolts such that the cabinet sides 38 and/or 40 can be securely fastened to the inside front panel 202 and/or the front cabinet panel 200. Securing the inside front panel 202 or the front cabinet panel 200 to at least one of the cabinet sides 38 and/or 40 may prevent the front cabinet panel 200 and the inside front panel 202 from falling open. In an embodiment, a locking mechanism is disposed outside the upper cabinet instead of or in addition to a locking mechanism disposed inside the upper cabinet.
In another embodiment, the inside front panel includes a handle to assist in folding the movable sleeping section into its closed position. The handle on inside front panel could be positioned to face downward when the movable sleeping section is in its horizontal position to receive the mattress, for example positioned such that the handle would not touch the bottom drawer or another component.
In yet another embodiment, the inside front panel is movably connected to the cabinet front panel in a different manner and/or the cabinet front panel is movably connected to the cabinet floor in a different manner. In yet another embodiment, the movable sleeping section does not include an inside panel.
Still referring to FIG. 3, the movable sleeping section 26 may include support legs 220 and 222 that are each pivotably attached to one side of the inside front panel 202. When the front cabinet panel 200 is in the horizontal open position and the inside front panel 202 is in the upright horizontal position, the support legs 220 and 222 are pivotable about a corresponding axis that is parallel to the length of the movable sleeping section 26. For example, the support legs 220 and 22 are pivotable from a retracted position (exemplified in FIG. 14) to a pivoted position (exemplified in FIG. 3) where a lowermost surface of each of the support legs 220 and 22 is below the cabinet floor 44 and lower than when in the retracted position.
Fasteners 230 such as screws, glue or rivets can be used to hold various pieces together, including hinges and panels as appropriate.
Also, additional features can be added to the cabinet bed 20 to improve ease of use and/or reduce wear on the parts. For example, the topmost surface of the movable spacers 94 and 96 and/or the topmost surfaces of the bottom drawer 66 may be formed partially or entirely of felt or another soft surface, as exemplified in FIG. 5, to reduce sound and to reduce wear on the movable sleeping section 26.
FIGS. 7-16 illustrate the cabinet bed 20 transitioning from its closed state shown in FIG. 1 to its fully-open state shown in FIGS. 16-18 where the mattress can be placed on the movable sleeping section 26 for a person to sleep on. Initially referring to FIG. 7, the cabinet top 36 of the upper cabinet 22 may be opened by pivoting the front part 62 of the cabinet top 36 upward. When the front part 62 is lifted up, the locking mechanisms 210 may be disconnected by the user to allow the movable sleeping section 26 to move to its horizontal position.
As shown in FIG. 8, one or more hydraulic or pneumatic pistons 240 may be configured to hold the front part 62 in the upward position and/or to soften opening and closing of the front part 62. In an embodiment, the pistons are not included, and the front part is configured to rotate 180° from its closed position to overlap the rear part of the cabinet top.
Referring still to FIG. 8, before or after the front part 62 is lifted up, the bottom drawer 66 may be pulled forward from underneath the cabinet floor 44 to form a support for the front cabinet panel 200. As shown in FIGS. 9-12, the movable spacers 94 and 96 may be rotated about their respective hinges so that the corresponding major surfaces are horizontal and facing upward to receive the front cabinet panel 200. When the bottom drawer 66 is opened, the user may pull out any desired items from the bottom drawer 66, such as pillows or bedding (not illustrated).
In an embodiment, pulling the bottom drawer forward, from its closed position underneath the cabinet floor, includes unfolding hingedly connected extension panels that are hingedly connected to the bottom drawer and another part of the base. In an alternative embodiment, pulling the bottom drawer forward includes extending telescopic rails that are connected to the bottom drawer and another part of the base, for example as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,574,758 issued on Aug. 18, 2009 to Arason.
FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate the front cabinet panel 200 rotating from its vertical closed position to its horizontal open position when the locking mechanisms 210 are in an unlocked state. When in the horizontal open position, the front cabinet panel 200 is supported by the drawer front 68 and the major surface of the movable spacers 94 and 96.
When the front cabinet panel 200 is in the horizontal open position, the front part 62 of cabinet top 36 can be moved back to its horizontal position to reduce the visibility obstructed by the height of the profile of the upper cabinet 22.
FIG. 15 illustrates the rotation of the support legs 220 and 222 relative to the inside front panel 202 from the retracted horizontal position to the pivoted position.
FIGS. 16-18 illustrate the cabinet bed 20 in the fully-open state where the inside front panel 202 has been unfolded so that the mattress or other cushioning material suitable for sleeping on can be placed on the front cabinet panel 200, the inside cabinet panel 202, and the cabinet floor 44 for a user to lay on. When unfolding the inside front panel 202 to lower the support legs 220 and 222 toward the ground, a handle (not shown) secured to the inside front panel 202 can be gripped to assist in pivoting the inside front panel 202 toward the ground.
The mattress may be stored inside the upper cabinet 22 above the cabinet floor 44 when the upper cabinet 22 is closed, and when the upper cabinet 22 is opened the mattress can be pulled out of the upper cabinet 22 and unfolded onto the front cabinet panel 200 and the inside front panel 202. When the mattress is laying flat, the bed can be made by putting bedding stored in the bottom drawer 66 on the mattress and placing pillows stored in the bottom drawer 66 on the mattress. In an embodiment, the mattress is made of three sections which can be hingedly attached to one another in a chain by fabric so that the mattress easily folds up and unfolds in sections similar in size to the upward facing surfaces of the cabinet floor 44, the front cabinet panel 200, and the inside cabinet panel 200.
Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to a certain embodiment or embodiments, it is obvious that equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. In particular regard to the various functions performed by the above described elements (components, assemblies, devices, compositions, etc.), the terms (including a reference to a “means”) used to describe such elements are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any element which performs the specified function of the described element (i.e., that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the herein illustrated exemplary embodiment or embodiments of the invention. In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been described above with respect to only one or more of several illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other embodiments, as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application.

Claims

1. Apparatus for transforming between a bed and a cabinet, comprising

a rear cabinet panel;

a cabinet top attached to the rear cabinet panel along a top edge of the rear cabinet panel;

a first cabinet side attached to the rear cabinet panel along a first side edge of the rear cabinet panel;

a second cabinet side attached to the rear cabinet panel along a second side edge, of the rear cabinet panel, opposite the first side edge;

a cabinet floor;

a movable sleeping section that is movable from a first position to a horizontal position where the movable sleeping section would be parallel with the cabinet floor, wherein when the movable sleeping section is in the horizontal position the cabinet floor and the movable sleeping section would be arranged to together support a mattress;

a base comprising

an extendable support receiving opening;

an extendable support that is movable from a retracted position within the extendable support receiving opening to an extended position at least partially outside of the extendable support receiving opening, wherein when in the extended position the extendable support would be underneath the movable sleeping section when the movable sleeping section is in the horizontal position; and

a first movable spacer that is movably attached to the extendable support, wherein the first movable spacer is movable from a first position, where a topmost surface of the first movable spacer is below an upward facing surface of the cabinet floor, to a second position where the topmost surface is higher than when in the first position wherein when the extendable support is in the extended position the first movable spacer would support the movable sleeping section when the movable sleeping section is in the horizontal position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a second movable spacer that is movably attached to the extendable support, wherein the second movable spacer is movable from a first position, where a topmost surface of the second movable spacer is below an upward facing surface of the cabinet floor, to a second position where the topmost surface is higher than when in the first position wherein when the extendable support is in the extended position the second movable spacer would support the movable sleeping section when the movable sleeping section is in the horizontal position.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first movable spacer is movably attached to a first side of the extendable support, and the second movable spacer is movably attached to a second side of the extendable support opposite the first side.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the movable spacers are pivotably coupled to the extendable support such that the movable spacers pivot about corresponding axes that are parallel to a length of the movable sleeping section when in the horizontal position.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the first movable spacer is in the first position the topmost surface of the first movable spacer is below a downward facing surface of the cabinet floor.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first movable spacer extends along an axis that is parallel to a length of the movable sleeping section when in the horizontal position.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the extendable support is a drawer that is movable from a closed drawer position within the extendable support receiving opening to an open drawer position at least partially outside of the extendable support receiving opening, wherein when in the open position the drawer would support the movable sleeping section when the movable sleeping section is in the horizontal position.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drawer has a front drawer face, a rear drawer face, two side drawer faces, and a drawer base that is orthogonal to the front, rear, and side drawer faces,

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the movable sleep section comprises: a front cabinet panel hingedly attached along a bottom edge to the cabinet floor, and an inside front panel hingedly attached along a top edge to the front cabinet panel, the front cabinet panel and the inside front panel being moveable between a closed cabinet position orthogonal to the cabinet floor and the cabinet top and parallel to the rear cabinet panel to an open cabinet position parallel to the cabinet floor and the cabinet top and orthogonal to the rear cabinet panel.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cabinet top is orthogonal to the rear cabinet panel.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first cabinet side and the second cabinet side are orthogonal to the rear cabinet panel and orthogonal to the cabinet top.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the extendable support includes a first laterally extending slidable guide protruding laterally from a first side of the extendable support toward a first side of the base, and includes a second laterally extending slidable guide protruding laterally from a second side of the extendable support toward a first side of the base.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the base includes a first laterally extending guide protruding laterally from a first side of the base toward the first side of the extendable support, and includes a second laterally extending guide protruding laterally from a second side of the base toward the second side of the extendable support; and

wherein the first laterally extending guide limits forward movement of the first laterally extending slidable guide at a predetermined distance from a rear end of the base, and the second laterally extending guide limits forward movement of the second laterally extending slidable guide at the predetermined distance from rear end of the base.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the movable sleeping section comprises:

a front cabinet panel pivotable relative to the cabinet floor such that the front cabinet panel is movable from a first cabinet panel position to a horizontal position where the front cabinet panel would be parallel with the cabinet floor;

an inside front panel that is movable relative to the front cabinet panel from a first position to a second position parallel with the front cabinet panel, whereby when the front cabinet panel is in the horizontal position the inside front panel is movable to the second position where the inside front panel, the front cabinet panel, and the cabinet floor would be arranged parallel to one another to together support a mattress;

a first support leg pivotably attached to a first side of the inside front panel, wherein when the front cabinet panel is in the horizontal position and the inside front panel is in the second position, the first support leg is pivotable, about an axis that is parallel to the length of the movable sleeping section when in the horizontal position, from a retracted position to a pivoted position where a lowermost surface of the first support leg is below the cabinet floor and lower than when in the retracted position; and

a second support leg pivotably attached to a second side of the inside front panel opposite the first side, wherein when the front cabinet panel is in the horizontal position and the inside front panel is in the second position, the second support leg is pivotable, about an axis that is parallel to the length of the movable sleeping section when in the horizontal position, from a retracted position to a pivoted position where a lowermost surface of the second support leg is below the cabinet floor and lower than when in the retracted position.

15. Apparatus for transforming between a bed and a cabinet, comprising

a rear cabinet panel;

a second cabinet set attached to the rear cabinet panel along a second side edge, of the rear cabinet panel, opposite the first side edge;

a cabinet floor;

a base comprising

an extendable support receiving opening; and

an extendable support that is movable from a retracted position within the extendable support receiving opening to an extended position at least partially outside of the extendable support receiving opening, wherein when in the extended position the extendable support would be underneath the movable sleeping section when the movable sleeping section is in the horizontal position;

wherein the extendable support includes a first laterally extending slidable guide protruding laterally from a first side of the extendable support toward a first side of the base, and includes a second laterally extending slidable guide protruding laterally from a second side of the extendable support toward a second side of the base.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first laterally extending slidable guide and the second laterally extending slidable guide each include a wheel that is rotatable about a respective axis parallel with a corresponding first side or second side of the extendable support such that the wheel is configured to roll forward and backward along a corresponding one of the first side or the second side of the base.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the base includes a first laterally extending guide protruding laterally from a first side of the base toward the first side of the extendable support, and includes a second laterally extending guide protruding laterally from a second side of the base toward the second side of the extendable support; and

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the base includes a first laterally extending guide protruding laterally from a first side of the base toward the first side of the extendable support, and includes a second laterally extending guide protruding laterally from a second side of the base toward the second side of the extendable support;

wherein the first laterally extending guide limits forward movement of the first laterally extending slidable guide at a predetermined distance from a rear end of the base, and the second laterally extending guide limits forward movement of the second laterally extending slidable guide at the predetermined distance from rear end of the base; and

wherein the first laterally extending slidable guide, the second laterally extending slidable guide, the first laterally extending guide, and the second laterally extending guide each include a wheel that is rotatable about a respective axis parallel with a corresponding first side or second side of the extendable support, wherein the wheels of the laterally extending slidable guides are configured to roll along a corresponding one of the first side or the second side of the base, and wherein the wheels of the laterally extending guides are configured to roll along a corresponding one of the first side or the second side of the extendable support.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the wheels of the laterally extending slidable guides are disposed at a rear of the extendable support, and the wheels of the laterally extending guides are disposed at a front of the base.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the movable sleep section comprises: a front cabinet panel hingedly attached along a bottom edge to the cabinet floor, and an inside front panel hingedly attached along a top edge to the front cabinet panel, the front cabinet panel and the inside front panel being moveable between a closed cabinet position orthogonal to the cabinet floor and the cabinet top and parallel to the rear cabinet panel to an open cabinet position parallel to the cabinet floor and the cabinet top and orthogonal to the rear cabinet panel; and

wherein the extendable support is a drawer that is movable from a closed drawer position within the extendable support receiving opening to an open drawer position at least partially outside of the extendable support receiving opening, wherein when in the open position the drawer would support the movable sleeping section when the movable sleeping section is in the horizontal position.