Accessing an Upper Bed

Abstract

An upper horizontal surface 9, 10, 11, comprising an access-ladder 7 with step-landing-platform 52, the upper horizontal surface 9, 10, 11, defining at least one surface for use as any or all, a surface for sleeping on, a surface for sitting on, a surface for leaning on, wherein at least part of either or both the access-ladder 7 and the step-landing-platform 52, is positioned on or adjacent the upper horizontal surface 9, 10, 11, and the step-landing platform 52 facilitates access between the access-ladder 7 and the upper horizontal surface 9, 10, 11. The invention relates to improvements in accessing at least one upper bed for either or both domestic and commercial use within a room of a building, or within a passenger space; said passenger space defining a passenger cabin, either motorised or towable, and comprising any of, a motorised caravan, a trailer, a trailer caravan, a fifth-wheel trailer, a fifth-wheel trailer caravan, a boat, a ship, a bus, a coach, an aircraft, and a railway carriage.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF INVENTION[0001]improvements in accessing at least one upper bed for either or both domestic and commercial use within a room of a building, or within a passenger space; said passenger space defining a passenger cabin, either motorised or towable, and comprising any of, a motorised caravan, a trailer, a trailer caravan, a fifth-wheel trailer, a fifth-wheel trailer caravan, a boat, a ship, a bus, a coach, an aircraft, a railway carriage.BACKGROUND OF INVENTION[0002]Perceiving and identifying the cause and real nature of the problem, a problem & solution approach.[0003]End users, and more particularly the elderly and infirm, have difficulty moving between a passenger cabin and the horizontal-surface of an upper-bunk-bed. Currently, a simple movable or portable access-ladder is provided, comprising two side members connected by parallel rungs. It is particularly difficult moving between the access-ladder and the horizontal-surface of the upper-bunk-bed. The end user h...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0022]According to this invention, there is provided an upper horizontal surface comprising an access-ladder with step-landing-platform, the upper horizontal surface defining at least one surface for use as any or all, a surface for sleeping on, a surface for laying on, a sur

Problems solved by technology

End users, and more particularly the elderly and infirm, have difficulty moving between a passenger cabin and the horizontal-surface of an upper-bunk-bed.

It is particularly difficult moving between the access-ladder and the horizontal-surface of the upper-bunk-bed.

This is not an easy manoeuvre, even for a physically fit and ambulant person.

Although there is usually a hook-over fitment on top of the access-ladder, the access-ladder tends to wobble, because the end user's centre of gravity tends to move outside the base of the access-ladder during the transition between the access-ladder and the upper-bunk-bed.

However, even if the access-ladder didn't wobble, the transition between access-ladder and upper-bunk-bed is physiologically demanding, and extremely difficult, if not impossible for most elderly and infirm passengers.

The real nature of the problem relating to access between the passenger cabin and the surface of an upper-bunk-bed has not been identified, and therefore no solution has been invented.

Passenger cabins in general, and particularly motorhomes and caravans, are designed to utilize space economically, because space is very limited.

Both fuel costs and parking issues influence the minimum weight & minimum space approach to motorhome and caravan design.

Simply introducing another bed that requires additional floor space and abandoning the upper-bunk-bed for occasional use by younger and more ambulant passengers and visitors does not identify the real nature of the problem, and therefore does not address the problem.

There are several issues associated with the cause of the problem.

One issue associated with the cause of the problem is that of the physiological difficulty relating to movement between the vertical standing position on the rung of an access-ladder and the horizontal reclined position on the surface of a bunk-bed.

This is a serious problem, even if there were only one passenger using the upper-bunk-bed.

A further issue associated with the cause of the problem is that of sleeping postures or sleeping profiles relating to end users.

This not only disturbs the passenger on the ‘outside’, but makes even more difficult the task of moving between upper-bunk-bed and access-ladder.

So a further issue associated with the cause of the problem relates to aerodynamics.

Fuel costs are rising, so the more aerodynamic the front roof of the motorhome over cab compartment or a caravan, the greater will be the miles per gallon obtained on journey.

So the cause of the difficulty is primarily related to the absence of creative perception in identifying the real nature of the problem.

Secondly, the cause of the difficulty is also related to the subjects of aerodynamics, physiology and technical design engineering.

This is a very awkward manoeuvre, especially for an older passenger.

Whilst other prior art upper beds are provided with access ladders which include a hook fixed to the access-ladder and a ‘U’ shaped bracket fixed to the upper bed, there is a tendency for the access-ladder to wobble in use.

The tendency of the access-ladder to wobble in use is more severe if the centre of gravity of the person using the access-ladder moves outside the base area of the access-ladder.

The tendency of the access-ladder to wobble in use is caused by a dimensionally loose fit in the joint between the hook and the ‘U’ shaped bracket.

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