Joint and bed assembly

Abstract

To provide a joint that can easily connect beds arranged in parallel, and a bed assembly connected with such a joint.SOLUTION: The current invention provides a joint 10 for connecting beds 2 with one another arranged in parallel. The joint 10 includes: a base part 11; and a connection part 12 integrally provided with the base part 11. The bed 2 includes: a bed part 3 where a user is laid down; and a frame part 4 supporting the bed part 3. The frame part 4 includes first frame parts 5 facing each other when the beds 2 are arranged side by side. The connection part 12 has a pair of first connection parts 13 that can be connected to the first frame parts 5 facing each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a joint for connecting beds arranged in parallel and a bed assembly connected by the joint. [Background technology]

[0002] In the past, it was appropriate to connect beds arranged in parallel and use them side by side. For example, the following Patent Document 1 proposes a pair bed device in which two beds arranged in parallel are connected with a common headboard and connecting tape. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2007-190185 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the paired bed device of Patent Document 1, the operation of connecting the two beds is complicated, and it has been desired to connect them by a simple operation.

[0005] The present invention has been devised in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its main object is to provide a joint that can easily connect beds arranged in parallel, and a bed assembly connected by the joint. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention is a joint for connecting beds lined up in parallel, comprising a base portion and a connecting portion formed integrally with the base portion, the bed including a sleeping portion on which a user can rest and a frame portion supporting the sleeping portion, the frame portion including first frame portions which face each other when the beds are lined up, and the connecting portion having a pair of first connecting portions which can be connected to the facing first frame portions. Effect of the Invention

[0007] By having the above-mentioned configuration, the joint of the present invention can easily connect beds arranged in parallel. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing one embodiment of a bed assembly of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of part B in FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 1. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the joint as seen from below. [Figure 6] 1 is a flowchart of a method for connecting beds. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a bed assembly 1 of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the bed assembly 1 of this embodiment includes a plurality of beds 2 and a joint 10 for connecting the beds 2 arranged in parallel. The bed assembly 1 includes, for example, two joints 10 and two beds 2 connected by the joints 10. Here, in this specification, "parallel" is not limited to being completely parallel, but generally This includes those that extend in the same direction.

[0010] Each of the beds 2 in this embodiment includes a bed section 3 on which a user can lie, and a frame section 4 that supports the bed section 3. The frame section 4 includes, for example, a first frame section 5 that face each other in parallel when the beds 2 are arranged in parallel, and a second frame section 6 that extends in a direction perpendicular to the first frame section 5. The first frame section 5 extends, for example, in the longitudinal direction of the bed. The second frame section 6 extends, for example, in the width direction of the bed.

[0011] Such a bed 2 can secure a stable bed section 3 with a simple structure, and has excellent cost performance. Here, in this specification, the "bed longitudinal direction" refers to the longitudinal direction of the bed 2 in a horizontal state, which will be described later, and corresponds to the height direction when the user uses the bed in a normal posture. Also, the "bed width direction" refers to the direction parallel to the floor surface among the directions perpendicular to the bed longitudinal direction, and the "bed up-down direction" refers to the direction perpendicular to the floor surface.

[0012] Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 2, each of the beds 2 includes, for example, legs 7 for supporting the frame 4. The legs 7 include, for example, a first leg 7A having a wheel member 7a and a second leg 7B having a wheeled member 7b. The first leg 7A is provided, for example, on both sides of the bed 2 in the longitudinal direction. The second leg 7B is provided, for example, in the center of the bed 2 in the longitudinal direction.

[0013] The bed 2 is preferably a folding bed that can be changed between a horizontal state in which a user can rest on the bed section 3 and a folded state in which the second leg section 7B is separated from the ground and folded into an inverted V shape. Such a bed 2 can be folded and stored when not in use.

[0014] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the bed assembly 1 is used, for example, with bedding such as a mattress or a futon placed on the upper surface 3a of each bed section 3 of the bed 2. When each bed 2 of the bed assembly 1 is single size (width W1 is about 80 to 100 cm), a single size mattress may be placed on each bed section 3, or a mattress of a size that spans the two bed sections 3 (width W2 is about 160 to 200 cm) may be placed on each bed. Such a bed assembly 1 can be disassembled and used as two single size beds 2, and the manner of use can be changed according to the needs of the user.

[0015] The bed assembly 1 is not limited to this embodiment, and may be, for example, a plurality of beds 2 connected together, each having a different width W1 in the direction perpendicular to the first frame portion 5. That is, the bed assembly 1 may include, for example, two joints 10 and two beds 2 connected together by the joints 10, each having a different width W1.

[0016] The bed assembly 1 can adjust the width W2 of the bed assembly 1 by connecting, for example, a single-size bed 2 with a width W1 of 90 cm to a bed 2 with a width W1 smaller than the single size. The width W2 of the bed assembly 1 can be, for example, semi-double size (width W2 is about 115 to 125 cm), double size (width W2 is about 135 to 145 cm), queen size (width W2 is about 155 to 165 cm), etc.

[0017] Such bed assemblies 1 can accommodate semi-double, double, queen, and other size mattresses, and can be used according to the needs of the user. It is preferable that the length L1 of the beds 2 in the longitudinal direction along the first frame portion 5 is the same, about 190 to 200 cm.

[0018] The bed assembly 1 is preferably used, for example, in a bed provision system that provides any bed size according to the needs of the user. The bed provision system provides the bed assembly 1 of any size according to the needs of the user, for example, by storing a single-size bed 2 and beds 2 of multiple sizes whose width W1 is smaller than that of the single size. Such a bed provision system does not require storing beds 2 of multiple sizes whose width W1 is large as inventory, and thus helps to reduce storage space and storage costs.

[0019] Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of part B in Fig. 1. For ease of explanation, the bed 3 is omitted from Fig. 3, and the joint 10 is indicated by a two-dot chain line. As shown in Fig. 3, the joint 10 of this embodiment includes a base 11 and a connecting portion 12 provided integrally with the base 11. The connecting portion 12 of this embodiment has a pair of first connecting portions 13 that can be connected to first frame portions 5 facing each other.

[0020] Such a joint 10 can connect multiple beds 2 simply by connecting the first connecting portion 13 to the first frame portion 5, thereby shortening the time required for the connection work. Therefore, the joint 10 of this embodiment can easily connect arranged beds 2 in parallel, and can maintain the beds arranged side by side in parallel.

[0021] In a more preferred embodiment, the frame portion 4 has an arc portion 8 connecting the first frame portion 5 and the second frame portion 6. Such a frame portion 4 can reduce the impact when it comes into contact with a user, thereby improving the safety of the bed 2.

[0022] The frame portion 4 of this embodiment has an auxiliary portion 9 that protrudes from the first frame portion 5. It is preferable that the auxiliary portion 9 protrudes inward in the bed width direction from the first frame portion 5. The auxiliary portion 9 of this embodiment can come into contact with the contact surface 13a of the first connecting portion 13 that connects to the first frame portion 5 when the joint 10 is attached.

[0023] Such an auxiliary part 9 can specify the position of the joint 10 along the bed longitudinal direction of the first frame part 5. Therefore, the auxiliary part 9 can abut against the abutment surface 13a of the joint 10 even when an external force that causes the two beds 2 to slide in the bed longitudinal direction acts on the joint 10. This allows the auxiliary part 9 of this embodiment to function as a stopper that prevents the joint 10 from coming loose or being displaced in the bed longitudinal direction.

[0024] The frame 4 is formed, for example, from a hollow pipe. The first frame 5 has, for example, an inner surface 5a on the inner side in the bed width direction and an outer surface 5b opposite the inner surface 5a in a plan view of the bed. The second frame 6 has, for example, an inner surface 6a on the inner side in the bed length direction and an outer surface 6b opposite the inner surface 6a in a plan view of the bed. Such a frame 4 can achieve both high rigidity and weight reduction.

[0025] 4 is a cross-sectional view of line CC in FIG. 1. In FIG. 4, for the sake of explanation, the bed section 3 is omitted, and the first frame section 5 and the second frame section 6 are indicated by two-dot chain lines. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the first frame section 5 has, for example, an upper surface 5c facing upward when used as the bed 2, and a lower surface 5d facing downward. The second frame section 6 has, for example, an upper surface 6c facing upward when used as the bed 2, and a lower surface 6d facing downward. The upper surface 5c of the first frame section 5 and the upper surface 6c of the second frame section 6 in this embodiment are each located below the upper surface 3a of the bed section 3 (shown in FIG. 2).

[0026] The base portion 11 of the joint 10 is desirably in the shape of a plate covering the upper surface 5c of the first frame portion 5 and the upper surface 6c of the second frame portion 6. In this type of joint 10, the upper surface 11a of the base portion 11 is formed as a flat surface, on which bedding such as a mattress or a futon can be easily placed. In addition, this joint 10 helps prevent the bed from coming loose or shifting in the vertical direction without changing its posture even when an external force is applied from the upper surface 11a of the base portion 11, by having the lower surface 11b of the base portion 11 come into contact with the upper surface 3a (shown in FIG. 2) of the bed portion 3.

[0027] The base portion 11 has, for example, a trapezoidal shape in a plan view. Such a base portion 11 can efficiently form the first joint portion 13 and the second joint portion 14. Note that the shape of the base portion 11 is not limited to this embodiment, and may be, for example, a triangular or rectangular shape.

[0028] The connecting portion 12 of this embodiment has a pair of second connecting portions 14 that can come into contact with the second frame portions 6 of the beds 2 arranged in parallel. It is preferable that the second connecting portions 14 can come into contact with the outer surface 6b of the second frame portion 6. With such a joint 10, the position at which it is connected to the frame portion 4 can be easily identified, and it is also highly stable after connection.

[0029] 5 is a perspective view of the joint 10 as viewed from below. As shown in Fig. 3 to Fig. 5, the second joint portion 14 of this embodiment includes a vertical wall portion 15 extending in a direction perpendicular to the base portion 11, and a lower wall portion 16 protruding from the vertical wall portion 15 toward the first joint portion 13. The vertical wall portion 15 of this embodiment is capable of contacting the outer surface 6b of the second frame portion 6.

[0030] Such a second connecting portion 14 makes it easier to identify the connecting position of the first connecting portion 13 to the first frame portion 5, and also helps to maintain the connected state by the vertical wall portion 15 contacting the outer surface 6b of the second frame portion 6 even after connection. Therefore, even when an external force is applied in the bed longitudinal direction, the joint 10 of this embodiment can prevent dislodging or displacement in the bed longitudinal direction by the abutment of the abutment surface 13a with the auxiliary portion 9 and the abutment of the vertical wall portion 15 with the second frame portion 6.

[0031] Each of the vertical wall portions 15 of the pair of second joint portions 14 is integrally formed, for example, by a connecting wall portion 17. Such a second joint portion 14 can increase the rigidity of the vertical wall portions 15, and can improve the strength and durability.

[0032] It is desirable that the lower wall portion 16 be able to come into contact with, for example, the lower surface 6d of the second frame portion 6. Such a second connecting portion 14 can facilitate the attachment work of the joint 10 and can also improve stability after connection.

[0033] The lower wall portions 16 of the pair of second connecting portions 14 are provided independently of each other. In such second connecting portions 14, there is no risk of the lower wall portions 16 coming into contact with the arc portion 8 of the frame portion 4, and stability after connection can be further improved. In addition, the lower wall portions 16 are elastically deformable, which facilitates the attachment work of the joint 10 to the frame portion 4 and also helps to shorten the work time. The pair of lower wall portions 16 may be connected to each other.

[0034] Each of the first connecting portions 13 in this embodiment has a pair of claw pieces 18 that sandwich the first frame portion 5 from both the left and right sides. Such a first connecting portion 13 can be connected to the first frame portion 5 by inserting the joint 10 from above the first frame portion 5, which helps to facilitate the installation work.

[0035] The claw piece 18 is preferably formed in a downwardly facing, generally C-shape that opens downward. The claw piece 18 includes, for example, a first piece 18a that can contact the outer surface 5b of the first frame portion 5 when attached to the first frame portion 5, and a second piece 18b that can contact the inner surface 5a of the first frame portion 5. In this embodiment, the protruding length L2 of the first piece 18a from the base portion 11 is greater than the protruding length L3 of the second piece 18b from the base portion 11. When the first joint portion 13 is attached to the first frame portion 5, such a claw piece 18 allows the first piece 18a to come into contact with the first frame portion 5 first, thereby making the attachment work smoother.

[0036] In this embodiment, the first piece 18a has a first protruding portion 18c that protrudes further than the second piece 18b. The first protruding portion 18c is preferably curved in a direction that increases the distance between the first piece 18a and the second piece 18b. When the first joint portion 13 is attached to the first frame portion 5 from above the first frame portion 5, the first protruding portion 18c can guide the first frame portion 5 between the first piece 18a and the second piece 18b, making the attachment work more efficient.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 1, it is preferable that each of the two joints 10 is attached to both ends of the first frame portion 5 in the bed longitudinal direction. Such a joint 10 can further improve the stability of the connected beds 2. That is, each of the two joints 10 can prevent the two beds 2 from moving closer to or farther away from each other in the width direction by the first connecting portion 13, and can maintain the parallel state of the beds 2. In addition, this joint 10 can prevent the two beds 2 from sliding in the longitudinal direction by the first connecting portion 13 and the second connecting portion 14, and it is also easy to line up the second frame portions 6 of the two beds 2 in a straight line.

[0038] Next, a method for connecting the bed 2 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. Fig. 6 is a flowchart of the method for connecting beds 2 in this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 6, the method for connecting beds 2 first performs an installation step S1 in which a plurality of beds 2, two beds 2 in this embodiment, are arranged substantially parallel to each other.

[0039] In the installation step S1, it is preferable to move each bed 2 to an arbitrary installation location using the wheel members 7a. In the installation step S1, for example, the bed 2 in the folded state may be moved using the wheel members 7a and transformed into a horizontal state at the installation location. In such an installation step S1, it is easy to move the bed 2 in a narrow space, and the time required for the installation work can be shortened.

[0040] In the method for connecting the beds 2 of this embodiment, after the installation step S1, an attachment step S2 for attaching the joint 10 is performed. In the attachment step S2, it is preferable to rotate the joint 10 around the second frame portion 6 so as to push the first coupling portion 13 from above the first frame portion 5 while the second coupling portion 14 is in contact with the second frame portion 6. In this attachment step S2, the second coupling portion 14 is easily positioned, and attachment is possible without checking the positional relationship between the first coupling portion 13 and the auxiliary portion 9, so that the time required for the attachment work can be shortened.

[0041] In the attachment process S2 of this embodiment, two joints 10 are attached to both ends of the first frame portion 5 in the bed longitudinal direction. Such an attachment process S2 can improve the stability of the connected beds 2, and can also fine-tune the installation position of the bed assembly 1.

[0042] Although a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and can be modified in various ways.

[0043] [Note] The present invention is as follows.

[0044] [Invention 1] A joint for connecting beds arranged in parallel, A base portion; a coupling portion integrally formed with the base portion, The bed includes a bed portion on which a user can lie and a frame portion that supports the bed portion, The frame portion includes first frame portions that face each other when the beds are arranged side by side, The coupling portion has a pair of first coupling portions that can be coupled to the first frame portions that face each other. joint.

[0045] [Invention 2] The joint according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first connecting portions has a pair of claw pieces that sandwich the first frame portion from both left and right sides.

[0046] [Invention 3] The first frame portion has an inner surface on the inner side in the bed width direction and an outer surface opposite to the inner surface, The claw piece includes a first piece capable of contacting the outer surface of the first frame portion and a second piece capable of contacting the inner surface of the first frame portion, The joint of claim 2 , wherein the height of the first piece is greater than the height of the second piece.

[0047] [Invention 4] The frame portion includes a second frame portion extending in a direction perpendicular to the first frame portion, 4. The joint according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion has a second connecting portion capable of contacting the second frame portion.

[0048] [Invention 5] The second frame portion has an inner surface on the inner side in the longitudinal direction of the bed and an outer surface opposite to the inner surface, The joint according to claim 4, wherein the second coupling portion is contactable with the outer surface of the second frame portion.

[0049] [Invention 6] 6. The joint according to claim 1, wherein the base portion is in the shape of a plate covering an upper surface of the first frame portion.

[0050] [Invention 7] A bed assembly comprising: a joint according to any one of claims 1 to 6; and a plurality of the beds connected by the joint.

[0051] [Invention 8] Two of the joints and two of the beds, 8. The bed assembly according to claim 7, wherein each of the joints is attached to both ends of the first frame portion in a bed longitudinal direction.

[0052] [The present invention 9] The frame portion has an auxiliary portion protruding from the first frame portion, 9. The bed assembly according to claim 7, wherein the auxiliary portion is contactable with the first connecting portion connected to the first frame portion. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 2 beds 3. Sleeping area 4 Frame 5 First frame 10 Joint 11 Base 12 Joint 13. The first joint

Claims

1. A joint for connecting beds arranged in parallel, A base portion; a coupling portion integrally formed with the base portion, The bed includes a bed portion on which a user can lie and a frame portion that supports the bed portion, The frame portion includes first frame portions that face each other when the beds are arranged side by side, The coupling portion has a pair of first coupling portions that can be coupled to the first frame portions facing each other. joint.

2. The joint according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first connecting portions has a pair of claw pieces that sandwich the first frame portion from both left and right sides.

3. The first frame portion has an inner surface on the inner side in the bed width direction and an outer surface opposite to the inner surface, The claw piece includes a first piece capable of contacting the outer surface of the first frame portion and a second piece capable of contacting the inner surface of the first frame portion, The joint of claim 2 , wherein the height of the first piece is greater than the height of the second piece.

4. The frame portion includes a second frame portion extending in a direction perpendicular to the first frame portion, The joint according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling portion has a second coupling portion capable of contacting the second frame portion.

5. The second frame portion has an inner surface on the inner side in the longitudinal direction of the bed and an outer surface opposite to the inner surface, The joint according to claim 4 , wherein the second coupling portion is contactable with the outer surface of the second frame portion.

6. The joint according to claim 1 , wherein the base portion is in the form of a plate that covers an upper surface of the first frame portion.

7. A bed assembly comprising: a joint according to any one of claims 1 to 6; and a plurality of said beds connected by said joint.

8. Two of the joints and two of the beds, 8. The bed assembly according to claim 7, wherein each of the joints is attached to both ends of the first frame portion in the bed longitudinal direction.

9. The frame portion has an auxiliary portion protruding from the first frame portion, The bed assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the auxiliary portion is contactable with the first coupling portion coupled to the first frame portion.

Images