Motorized system for conversion between single and double beds

Abstract

The present invention relates to a motorised system for converting between single beds and a double bed, comprising two bed frames, each formed by a structure and a mattress base, wherein each bed frame is equipped with at least two electric motors arranged in parallel and housed inside the structure. Said motors allow the lateral displacement of the structure with respect to the floor and are connected to a transmission system made up of gears and displacement guides, allowing the mattress base to perform an independent lifting movement with respect to the structure. Said motors are also configured to allow the mattress base to be able to be lifted independently or simultaneously, adapting to user's needs.

Description

Object of the invention

[0001] The object of the present specification is to provide a motorised system for converting between single beds and a double bed, allowing the automatic joining and separation of two single beds by means of two electric motors which allow the lateral displacement and lifting of the beds with respect to the floor, ensuring stability, safety and ease of use.Background of the invention

[0002] Hotels and other lodging establishments today face the problem of adapting bed configuration according to guests' needs, which requires manual adjustments that can cause discomfort for users and additional effort for cleaning staff. Existing systems have limitations in terms of ergonomics, automation and stability, resulting in unwanted displacements of beds once they are joined or separated. Furthermore, double beds present a serious ergonomic problem for the people in charge of making the bed. Since they have such a large width, they can cause injury problems for these workers.

[0003] Solutions such as the one described in patent document CN103829647A, which discloses a combined bed system made up of a fixed bed and a movable bed that can be displaced by means of a rail and wheels, are known in the state of the art. This invention allows converting two single beds into a double bed through a manual mechanism, with an automatic locking system that prevents unwanted movement of the beds once assembled. However, this system lacks automation and still requires manual intervention for use, limiting its efficiency and convenience.

[0004] Likewise, patent document CN211748293U describes a double bed that is easy to assemble and separate, in which one of the bed halves is moveable and can be displaced by means of a system consisting of gears and an electric motor. Although this invention incorporates a motorised drive system, its design is based on a structure with visible and mechanically more complex elements, which may affect aesthetics and integration in hotel settings. Furthermore, it does not contemplate a remote control system or compatibility with lifting mechanisms to facilitate cleaning and maintenance tasks.

[0005] To solve these drawbacks, the present invention introduces a hidden motorised system, integrated in the frame of the beds, which allows displacement by means of electric motors controlled remotely using a remote controller, a mobile application or from the hotel reception. Unlike conventional systems, the joining of the beds is stable and safe, preventing unintentional movements during use. Furthermore, the system is compatible with lifting mechanisms, allowing an ergonomic configuration that facilitates the work of cleaning staff.

[0006] Furthermore, the system proposed herein allows the same space to be efficiently adapted, optimising the versatility of the rooms and improving user experience without requiring manual interventions. Therefore, the present invention provides a more advanced, safe and adaptable solution compared to bed conversion devices existing on the market which have bulky structures or require visible mechanisms for their operation, the present motorised system allows an aesthetic and ergonomic design, keeping the motors hidden and ensuring a seamless integration with the bed structure.Description of the invention

[0007] The technical problem solved by the present invention is to provide a safe and efficient automated system which allows quickly converting between two single beds and a double bed without manual intervention, particularly in hotel and home settings where room configuration must be adapted to different needs. To that end, the motorised system for converting between single beds and a double bed, object of the present utility model, allows joining and separating two single beds by means of two electric motors which allow the lateral displacement and lifting of the beds with respect to the floor, ensuring stability, safety and ease of use.

[0008] The system is made up of two bed frames or mattress supports, each equipped with hidden electric motors which allow lateral displacement. The motors are housed inside the structure of the mattress support, ensuring an aesthetic design without visible elements and preventing interferences with other pieces of furniture or manual displacement by the user. To ensure a stable and precise movement, the system incorporates displacement guides which facilitate the controlled sliding of the beds, ensuring that the conversion between the double bed and single bed configurations is performed effortlessly.

[0009] Displacement of the beds is performed through a set of synchronised electric motors that are readily replaced in case of malfunction, without requiring gears and accessories that would only cause problems with use. These motors displace the mattress support through displacement guides allowing the parallel movement of the mattress supports. The motors work in a synchronised manner to ensure that both halves of the bed are moved simultaneously without mismatches or misalignments. When the joining of the beds is activated, the system can incorporate a locking mechanism in which once the motors displace the mattress supports until they are completely aligned, both bases are fixed to prevent unintentional movements during use. Conversely, upon activating the separation, locking is released and the motors displace the mattress supports to their single bed position.

[0010] As a result of its modular design, the invention can be applied to different types of beds, including those with lifting systems, allowing cleaning staff to be able to perform their work in an ergonomic manner in two ways, on one hand by raising it to a comfortable height, like many mechanisms already existing on the market and which are mandatory by law, and on the other hand by separating them to enable making the bed, where the staff will have access to all four sides, i.e., the two outer sides and the two inner sides. This feature is particularly relevant in settings where there are regulations that require lifting beds to facilitate the tasks of maintenance and changing bed linen since, in some countries, the regulations require hotel beds to incorporate a lifting system to facilitate the work of cleaning staff. The present invention is designed to be fully compatible with these requirements, allowing its integration without effecting the lateral displacement functionality.

[0011] The system is controlled through a remote controller, a mobile application or control software based on a web platform or desktop application. This functionality allows, in a hotel application of the system, the hotel staff to be able to configure the arrangement of the room before the arrival of the guests without requiring manual intervention, optimising preparation times and increasing space versatility. Furthermore, the system many incorporate a timer function which allows programming the automatic separation of the beds after a certain time, according to the settings defined by the user, allowing the beds to be used jointly at the start and being able to separate them after an estimated time by means of programming or manually through the wireless controllers.

[0012] To ensure safe use, the system is equipped with obstacle detection sensors which stop the movement in case of interferences in the path of the beds, preventing possible entrapments or accidents.

[0013] Unlike existing systems, the present invention offers a fully automated mechanism, without requiring manual adjustments. Its integration with lifting systems allows cleaning staff to be able to perform their work in a more ergonomic manner, avoiding forced postures and reducing the physical effort required to make the beds. Likewise, by having hidden motors, the design is aesthetically clean and free of visible mechanical elements that may cause drawbacks or affect the decoration of the room.

[0014] As a result of these features, the present invention provides an efficient solution adaptable for hotels, residences and homes, improving user experience, optimising space management and facilitating the work of the staff in charge of room maintenance. The design allows a simple and instantaneous repair in case of a motor malfunction, avoiding complex gears that can always have a tendency to malfunction. The extra-flat design allows creating beds with a low design, preventing mattress supports from having to have a great height, as in the mentioned inventions, which could be uncomfortable for a large part of the population.Brief description of the figures

[0015] What follows is a very brief description of a series of drawings that aid in better understanding the invention and which are expressly related to an embodiment of said invention that is presented by way of a non-limiting example of the same. FIG 1.shows a view of one of the two bed frames of the motorised system for converting between single beds and a double bed, object of the present invention. FIG 2.shows a view of two beds in the double bed position. FIG 3.shows a view of two beds in the single bed position. FIG 4.shows a view of two beds in the single bed position with one of said beds in its lifted position. FIG 5.shows a view of two beds in the lifted single bed position. FIG 6.shows a bottom view of two beds in the double bed position. Description of a detailed embodiment of the invention

[0016] The attached figures show a preferred embodiment of the invention. More specifically, the motorised system for converting between single beds and a double bed comprises two bed frames (1, 2), each formed by a structure (1a, 2a) and a mattress base (1b, 2b), and wherein each bed frame (1, 2) is equipped with at least two electric motors (3) arranged in parallel and housed inside the structure (1a, 2a). Said motors (3) allow the lateral displacement of the structure (1a, 2a) with respect to the floor and are in turn connected to a transmission system (4) made up of gears and displacement guides, allowing the mattress base (1b, 2b) to perform an independent lifting movement with respect to the structure (1a, 2a).

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the electric motors (3) can be readily replaced in case of malfunction, allowing their disassembly without requiring specialised tools. This facilitates system maintenance and reduces inactivity times in commercial settings such as hotels or residences.

[0018] To ensure a quiet and efficient operation, the electric motors (3) are designed to operate at low speed and with a reduced noise level, preventing unpleasantness for the users. Furthermore, the electric motors (3) are configured to allow the mattress base (1b, 2b) to be able to be lifted independently or simultaneously, being adapted to user's preferences and optimising ergonomic when in use. Likewise, the transmission system (4) is configured to ensure a smooth and uniform displacement of the beds, without vibrations or sudden movements.

[0019] In terms of the structure of the system, the electric motors (3) and the transmission components (4) are housed inside the structure of the mattress supports, being completely hidden and without visible elements that interfere with the aesthetics of the furniture. This integration allows the system to maintain the appearance of a conventional bed when it is not in use, without exposed cables or mechanisms. Furthermore, the electric motors (3) can be anchored to the floor, providing a more stable fixing and minimising vibrations in the bed structure.

[0020] In another preferred embodiment, the system is compatible with bed lifting mechanisms, allowing cleaning staff to be able to lift the structure to perform their work in an ergonomic manner. The integration of this function does not affect the displacement mechanism since the motors are designed to operate independently of the lifting of the base.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the bed frames (1, 2) incorporate obstacle detection sensors in their structure (1a, 2a) which interrupt the movement if an interference is detected in the displacement path. This safety system prevents accidental entrapments and protects both the user and the surrounding furniture.

[0022] In another preferred embodiment, the system is configured to operate by means of wireless connection, being able to communicate through technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and home automation network protocols, ensuring a flexible integration in home and hotel settings. Likewise, said system can be operated by means of remote control by means of a wireless remote controller, a mobile application or control software based on a web platform or desktop application. This configuration allows the user to select the desired arrangement of the beds in an intuitive manner and without requiring manual intervention. Likewise, the system incorporates an automatic timer function which allow programming the separation of the beds after a certain time according to user's preferences. This feature is particularly useful in settings where rest quality and comfort are to be optimised.

Claims

1. A motorised system for converting between single beds and a double bed comprising two bed frames (1, 2), each formed by a structure (1a, 2a) and a mattress base (1b, 2b), characterised in that each bed frame (1, 2) is equipped with at least two electric motors (3) arranged in parallel and housed inside the structure (1a, 2a), wherein said motors (3) allow the lateral displacement of the structure (1a, 2a) with respect to the floor and wherein said motors (3) are in turn connected to a transmission system (4) made up of gears and displacement guides, allowing the mattress base (1b, 2b) to perform an independent lifting movement with respect to the structure (1a, 2a).

2. The motorised system for converting between single beds and a double bed according to claim 1, wherein the electric motors (3) are configured to allow the mattress base (1b, 2b) of each of the bed frames (1, 2) to be able to be lifted independently with respect to the other mattress base (1b, 2b) or to allow both mattress bases (1b, 2b) to be able to be lifted simultaneously.

3. The motorised system for converting between single beds and a double bed according to claims 1 and 2, wherein the bed frames (1, 2) incorporate obstacle detection sensors in their structure (1a, 2a) which interrupt the movement if an interference is detected in the displacement path.

4. The motorised system for converting between single beds and a double bed according to claims 1 to 3, wherein the electric motors (3) can be readily replaced in case of malfunction, allowing their disassembly without requiring specialised tools.

5. The motorised system for converting between single beds and a double bed according to claims 1 to 4, wherein the system is configured to operate by means of wireless connection, being able to communicate through technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and home automation network protocols, ensuring a flexible integration in home and hotel settings.

6. The motorised system for converting between single beds and a double bed according to claims 1 to 5, wherein the system can be operated by means of remote control by means of a wireless remote controller, a mobile application or control software based on a web platform or desktop application.

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