Bedside storage box

Abstract

This mobile storage box is specifically designed to fit next to the headboard of a bed. It features internal dividers for easy organization, allowing for the storage of many items. Moreover, it can be freely moved to the most easily accessible position for a person lying in bed. [Solution] A concave fixing part 24 is fixed to the upper surface of the side frame (b) with screws or the like to form a guide rail 1, and a sliding part 25 provided on the inside of the inverted L-shaped upper surface of the support plate 18 of the movable body K1 fits into the groove of the fixing part 24 of the guide rail 1 and slides. Furthermore, two casters 2 are arranged in the direction in which the body travels in contact with the side of the side frame (b), and the load from above is distributed by the casters 2 on the side. This is a bedside storage box that can store items.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The storage box of the present invention relates to a box for storing articles, which can move back and forth manually or electrically along a guide rail or a side frame, and can also move up and down. Technical Background

[0002] Conventionally, there are side tables placed around the bed, bridge-type tables that are movable and span the bed, or cantilever-type tables. Among these, there are tables that can move back and forth manually or electrically, but there are many limitations in placing and neatly storing articles.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] The present invention is a movable storage box specialized for the side of the head part of the bed. The inside of the box is provided with partitions, which can be separated and many articles can be stored. Moreover, when on the bed, it is desirable to be able to freely move to the most accessible position when a person picks up something by hand.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] In response to this, the present case enables the storage box to move freely, either manually or electrically, so that many articles can be neatly stored, and it is placed in a position that does not get in the way when getting in and out of bed, and is moved to the optimal position when in use.

Effects of the Invention

[0005] The storage box of the present invention is a box that can place and store various operating devices and other small items that are necessary nearby. It is located right next to the head part of the bed and can be moved to a place that does not get in the way when getting in and out of bed. Also, the main body of the storage box can move up and down and can be moved to an optimal position within easy reach without strain when in use. Especially in the case of an electric bed, the optimal reach range of the hand varies significantly depending on the position of the body, but this can be solved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0006] [Figure 1] This is a diagram illustrating the relationship of the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Cross-sectional view of LL in Figure 1 [Figure 3] Cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the present invention [Figure 4] This is a diagram illustrating a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] Cross-sectional view of MM in Figure 4 [Figure 6] This is a diagram illustrating a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] Cross-sectional view of NN in Figure 6 [Figure 8] A cross-sectional view showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] A cross-sectional view showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] This is a detailed diagram of the drive unit of the fifth embodiment. [Figure 11] A cross-sectional view showing a sixth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] Figure 6 is a magnified view of a section of the cross-section of NN. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0007] This storage box for storing items is equipped with a drive roller attached to the shaft of a reduction motor that is the driving source, which is pressed against the guide rail or frame side by spring, on one or both of the side frames that make up the bed body, and a means for moving it back and forth along the guide rail or side frame, which is also provided by auxiliary wheels, and a means for moving it up and down, so that when the user is lying down it can easily reach the user's head and move it to a place where it is not in the way when it is not needed. [Examples]

[0008] Figure 1 shows a typical bed consisting of a side frame (b) connecting a headboard (c) and a footboard (d), and a mattress (a). Near the headboard (c) are support plates 5 that serve as legs to support a storage box 6, and a movable body K1 that moves back and forth. As shown in Figure 2, a guide rail 1 is formed on the upper surface of the side frame (b) by fixing a concave fixing part 24 with screws or the like. A sliding part 25 provided on the inside of the inverted L-shaped upper surface of the support plate 18, which serves as a support member for the movable body K1, fits into the groove of the fixing part 24 of the guide rail 1 and slides. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2, two casters 2 are arranged on one of the insides of the inverted L-shape of the support plate 18, which serves as a support member, in the direction in which it travels in contact with the side of the side frame (b), and the load from above is distributed by the casters 2 on the side.

[0009] As shown in Figure 2, the upper part of the support plate 5 that supports the storage box 6 is fixed with screws, etc. The lower part of the support plate 5 is attached to the support plate 18, which serves as a support member for the movable body K1, and a holder 3 is provided in the upper opening of this holder 3, which is then fixed with bolts 4. Multiple insert nuts are incorporated into the support plate 5 at different heights, allowing for height adjustment in multiple stages.

[0010] As shown in Figure 1, an example of the partitions inside the storage box 6 is shown. As shown in the figure, there are multiple shelves on the upper right side, where items such as remote controls for TVs, lights, and air conditioners, or smartphones can be placed horizontally. Below that, there is a drawer where stationery, glasses, medicine, supplements, etc. can be stored. On the left side, a control device with a lead wire can be semi-fixed, and further to the left, books, notebooks, or plastic bottles of beverages can be placed. Items can also be placed on the top surface 10 of the storage box 6, and a spot lighting stand can also be installed there. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the overall configuration of Figure 1.

[0011] As shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, sliding the storage box 6 back and forth requires manual operation as there is no power source. When getting in and out of bed, it must be manually moved to a position on the headboard (H) where it will not get in the way, and when using it, it must be manually moved to the optimal position. Although not shown in the diagram, the guide rail 1 has stoppers at both ends, and the position of the stoppers can be changed as needed, allowing it to move back and forth within that range. [Examples]

[0012] Figure 4 shows an electrified version of the aforementioned (Example 1), in which the storage box 6 moves back and forth along the guide rail 1 on the upper surface of the side frame (b), and is also configured to move up and down.

[0013] As shown in Figure 5, the drive unit K2 has a housing in which an inverted L-shaped angle 19 and a support plate 20 are integrated. A fixed shaft X is fixed to the inside of the inverted L-shaped angle 19, and the fixed shaft X passes through a flange C, which is movable. One end of the fixed shaft X is fitted with a stopper 26. A compression spring D is placed on the outer circumference of the fixed shaft X between the flange C and the inside of the angle 19, constantly pushing the flange C toward the stopper 26. Multiple fixed shafts X and compression springs D are provided. As shown in the figure, the flange C has a reduction motor A fixed to its upper surface with screws. The reduction motor A is rotated in both forward and reverse directions, and a drive roller B is attached to the shaft of the reduction motor A to provide resistance when pressed against a wear-resistant flat belt 7, like a gear. The entire reduction motor A and drive roller B are suspended within a housing with a cushioning spring D, and two auxiliary wheels 8 are arranged in a straight line in front of and behind the drive roller B inside an inverted L-shaped angle 19, forming the drive unit K2.

[0014] According to the forward and reverse rotation of this reduction motor A, the drive unit K2 presses the drive roller B against the wear-resistant thin belt 7 to rotate, and can move back and forth along the guide rail 1. The two auxiliary wheels 8 before and after the drive roller B are used to prevent the drive roller B from pressing too hard against the thin belt 7. Also, the load borne by the drive unit K2 is shared by contacting the thin belt 7 so that it can move back and forth. Refer to Figure 4. The wear-resistant thin belt 7 is fixed to the side frame (b) with an adhesive or the like. This is because the drive roller B rotates with resistance during running and needs to be pressed. There is a risk of damaging the side frame (b), and it also serves to prevent slipping. However, if the member can prevent damage and slipping when the drive roller B presses against the side frame (b), the thin belt 7 is not necessary.

[0015] As shown in Figure 5, on the right side of the support plate 20 of the housing of the drive unit K2, a motor E-driven lab jack F as a lifting means is fixed with screws or the like. In the figure, for the purpose of explanation, it is shown that the upper surface of the lab jack F has already risen, but actually when the upper surface of the lab jack F is at the lowest position, the top plate 10 of the storage box 6 is at the same level as the upper surface of the bed mat (a) or slightly higher. Refer to Figure 4. The lab jack F and the storage box 6 are fixed with screws or the like.

[0016] The motor E of the lab jack F can rotate forward and backward, and accordingly the storage box 6 can be lifted up and down. In addition to the lab jack F for lifting up and down, although the structure is different, an actuator or the like can also be used. The lab jack F, as is well known, has a bottom plate and a top plate, and a plurality of flat and narrow small strip-like iron pieces such as iron are crossed between them, and the fulcrum points are fixed and combined in a state where they can be actively moved. By rotating the screw, the iron pieces become horizontal or vertical, and the whole becomes telescopic, and the top plate moves up and down in a horizontal state. In this case, an electric type is used to rotate the screw that makes the iron pieces horizontal or vertical.

[0017] The ordinary side table is either fixed or located at a low position with casters. In contrast, as shown in FIG. 4, this storage box 6 is designed to move back and forth and also move up and down. As shown in FIG. 4, when in use, the storage box 6 is positioned at an optimal position and height for picking up items by hand. If one feels a sense of compression at this height, the top plate 10 of the storage box 6 can be lowered to a position approximately the same as the upper surface of the bed mat (a). When necessary, the storage box 6 can be raised, and if it gets in the way, it can be moved towards the headboard (c). As described above, the storage box 6 consists of separate drive sources, including a reduction motor A for back-and-forth movement and a motor E for raising and lowering the lab jack F, and they are independent of each other.

[0018] Therefore, it is also possible to use the storage box 6 by simply moving it back and forth with the drive roller B in a state where it is at the optimal position and height for picking up items by hand, omitting the mechanism of the lab jack F that moves up and down. In this case, for the part where the mechanism of the lab jack F that moves up and down is omitted, legs corresponding to its height can be provided and fixed with screws or the like. These are applicable from Example 3 to Example 6 described later. It is also possible to manually move the storage box 6 back and forth and electrically raise and lower the storage box 6. In this case, except for the drive sources such as the drive roller B, reduction motor A, and spring D that move back and forth, it is also possible to use only the storage box 6 and raise and lower the lab jack F with the motor E. These are applicable from Example 3 to Example 6 described later.

[0019] In FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, although omitted in the figures, two switch buttons for back-and-forth movement and two switch buttons for raising and lowering, which are necessary for this operation, are provided in front of or around the top plate 10 of the storage box 6. When the switch buttons are pressed, they turn on, and when released, they turn off, and the operation will only occur when being pressed. By these operations, the storage box 6 can be moved to a desired position.

[0020] Although not shown in the diagram, the guide rail 1 in Figure 4 has stoppers at both ends within its range of movement. Although not shown in the diagram, limit switches are installed at both the front and rear ends of the drive unit K2. When the drive unit K2 hits a stopper, the limit switches are activated simultaneously, and the switches are turned OFF at both stoppers. This allows the unit to move from one end to the other within its range of movement, although it cannot be stopped midway, by pressing each of the front and rear switches once.

[0021] Furthermore, although not shown in the diagram, limit switches are provided for the lowest and optimal heights of the lab jack F, respectively. By pressing the up switch button and the down switch button once, the storage box 6 can be raised or lowered. This allows for simultaneous forward / backward movement and vertical movement of the storage box 6 by pressing either of the forward or backward switch buttons (as described above in (0020)) and either of the up / down switches. For example, when using the storage box 6, it can be moved forward and raised simultaneously, and conversely, when not needed, it can be moved backward and lowered simultaneously. These features are applied to Embodiments 3 to 6 described later. [Examples]

[0022] As shown in Figure 7, the drive unit K3 has a housing in which an inverted L-shaped angle 19a and a support plate 20a are integrated. A fixed shaft X is fixed on the inside of the inverted L-shaped angle 19a, the fixed shaft X passes through a flange C, and the flange C is movable. One end of the fixed shaft X has a stopper 26. A compression spring D is placed on the outer circumference of the fixed shaft X between the flange C and the inside of the angle 19a, constantly pushing the flange C toward the stopper 26. Multiple fixed shafts X and compression springs D are provided. A reduction motor A is fixed to the flange C with screws as shown in the figure. The drive unit K3 is designed to rotate in the reverse direction, with a gear-like drive roller B attached to the shaft of the reduction motor A to provide resistance when pressed against the guide rail 12. The entire reduction motor A and drive roller B are cushioned by a compression spring D, and two auxiliary wheels 8 are provided in a straight line in front of and behind the drive roller B inside the housing of the inverted L-shaped angle 19a of the suspension structure. Furthermore, two casters 2 are arranged in a straight line on a support plate 20a with the shape of Figure 7, in contact with the side frame (b) and moving back and forth (see Figure 6). This method of sharing the load between the two auxiliary wheels 8 and the casters 2 is called the drive unit K3. Figure 12 shows a partial enlarged view of the drive unit K3.

[0023] As shown in Figure 7, the guide rail 12 is concave, and the drive roller B and auxiliary wheels 8 fit into the groove of this recess and run. The guide rail 12 is fixed to the base 11 with screws, etc., and the base 11 is fixed to the fastener 9 with screws, etc. The fastener 9 is tightened and fixed to the side frame (b) with an adjustment bolt 13. In the figure, the guide rail 12 and base 11 are shown separately, but they may be formed as a single piece by aluminum extrusion, or the guide rail 12, base 11 and fastener 9 may be formed as a single piece by aluminum extrusion and fixed to the side frame (b) with an adjustment bolt 13. In addition, at the bottom of the groove of the guide rail 12, as shown in Figure 12, a wear-resistant material belt 7 made of rubber, leather, plastic, etc. is laid and fixed with adhesive, etc. to prevent slippage and reduce noise generation when the drive roller B runs, and to make it a single unit. The depth of the recess of the guide rail 12 is such that the wheels do not derail. Although not shown in the diagram, stoppers are provided at both ends of the guide rail 12 within its range of movement, and limit switches are provided at both the front and rear ends of the drive unit K3, so that the limit switches are activated as soon as the drive unit K3 hits a stopper.

[0024] As shown in Figure 7, a motor-driven lab jack F is fixed to the right side of the support plate 20a of the drive unit K3 with screws, etc. A storage box 6 is fixed on top of this lab jack F with screws, etc. When the drive unit K3 moves back and forth, the storage box also moves, and the storage box 6 is also raised and lowered by the lab jack F. This operation and function are the same as in the previously described embodiment 2, see Figure 6.

[0025] As shown in Figures 7 and 12, the drive unit K3 and the lab jack F, and the lab jack F and the storage box 6 are fixed together with screws or the like. However, as shown in Figures 7 and 12, the drive roller B and auxiliary wheels 8 of the drive unit K3 are fitted into grooves in the guide rail 12 and run on top of them, and are completely separated from the guide rail 12, allowing the storage box 6 to be attached and detached. [Examples]

[0026] Figure 8 shows a portion of the mattress (a) and side frame (b), which are components of the bed body. As shown in Figure 8, the housing of the drive unit K4 is formed by fixing an angle 21 and a support plate 20b together with screws 22. The drive roller B inside this housing is configured to rotate by pressing against the lower side surface of the side frame (b). The principle of operation of this drive unit K4 is the same as (0013) in the above-described embodiment 2. Two casters 2 attached to the support plate 20b are in contact with the side surface of the side frame (b) opposite to the side surface that the drive roller B contacts. Thus, the lower side surface of the side frame (b) is sandwiched between the drive roller B and the casters 2, and the portion sandwiched between them serves as a guide rail. As shown in Figure 8, a thin belt 7 made of wear-resistant rubber, leather, or plastic is placed between the side frame (b) where the drive roller B makes contact, and fixed with adhesive or the like to prevent slippage and reduce noise during operation. However, if the material can prevent scratches and slippage when the drive roller B presses against the side frame (b), the thin belt 7 is not necessary.

[0027] Although not fully shown in Figure 8, the two casters 2 are positioned opposite each other, with the two auxiliary wheels 8 positioned in front of and behind the drive roller B, flanking the frame (b). See K2 in Figure 4. Although not shown in the figure, the side frame (b) has stoppers at the front and rear within the range of movement of the drive unit K4. Although not shown in the figure, there are limit switches at both the front and rear ends of the drive unit K4, and the limit switches are activated as soon as the drive unit K4 hits a stopper.

[0028] As shown in Figure 8, the angle 21 and the support plate 20b are fixed together with multiple screws 22. These screws 22 are used to adjust the degree to which the drive roller B and auxiliary wheel 8 inside the angle 21 are pressed against the side frame (b), and after adjustment, they are firmly fixed. In addition, four casters 2a are fixed to the drive unit K4, as shown on the lower right side of the support plate 20b, allowing for stable movement in the front and rear directions. A lab jack F is fixed above the casters with screws, etc., and a storage box 6 is fixed above the lab jack F with screws, etc. The operation and function of these are the same as in the previously described embodiment 2. [Examples]

[0029] As shown in Figure 9, the drive unit K5 consists of four casters 2a attached to the underside of a support plate 16 located below the side frame (b), and a drive roller B attached to a reduction motor A, which is also attached to the underside of the same support plate 16. In addition, a lab jack F and a storage box 6 are fixed to the upper side of the support plate 16 with screws or the like.

[0030] As shown in Figure 10, the drive roller B attached to the aforementioned reduction motor A has a fixed shaft X fixed to the upper inside of the box-shaped plate 23 shown in the diagram. The fixed shaft X passes through the flange C, and the flange C is movable. One end of the fixed shaft X has a stopper 26. A compression spring D is placed on the outer circumference of the fixed shaft X between the flange C and the inside of the box-shaped plate 23, constantly pushing the flange C toward the stopper 26. Multiple fixed shafts X and compression springs D are provided. The reduction motor A is fixed to the flange C with screws as shown in the diagram. The reduction motor A is configured to rotate in both forward and reverse directions. A drive roller B, which acts like a gear and provides resistance when pressed against the guide rail 12, is attached to the shaft of the reduction motor A. The entire reduction motor A and drive roller B are cushioned by the compression spring D, and the drive source Y is a suspension structure. The drive source Y is fixed to the support plate 16 with screws or the like, and the drive roller B can move back and forth by pressing against the guide rail 12, which is integrated with the floor base 15. Although not shown in the diagram, there are stoppers at both ends of the guide rail 12 within the range of movement, and limit switches are located before and after the drive source Y, which are activated simultaneously when the drive source Y hits a stopper.

[0031] As shown in Figure 10, the guide rail 12 and the floor base 15 are integrated and fixed with screws or the like so that the heads do not protrude. At the bottom of the groove of the guide rail 12, a belt 7 made of wear-resistant rubber, leather, or plastic material is laid and fixed with adhesive or the like to prevent slippage and reduce noise when the drive roller B runs, and the belt is fixed with adhesive or the like to create an integrated structure, but the depth of the recess of the guide rail 12 is such that the wheels do not derail.

[0032] The series of operations and functions of the storage box 6 are the same as those of the previously described embodiment 2. [Examples]

[0033] Figure 11 shows a portion of the main body of the bed, consisting of a mattress (a) and a frame (b). On the lower outer and inner surfaces of the side frame (b), there are support plates 17 made of iron or similar material with the shape shown in the figure, to which two casters 2 are directly attached in the direction of travel. An L-angle 17a, with two casters 2 attached in the direction of travel, is fixed with multiple screws 27, sandwiching the side frame (b) and allowing it to move back and forth along the side frame (b), acting as a guide. The multiple screws 27 are adjustment screws to allow the casters 2 to lightly contact and follow the side frame (b), and should be securely fastened after adjustment.

[0034] As shown in Figure 11, the drive unit K6 consists of four casters 2a attached to the lower side of the support plate 17, a drive roller B attached to the reduction motor A, and casters 2 provided so as to sandwich the side frame (b). The drive roller B attached to the reduction motor A has the same configuration as the drive source Y in Figure 10, as described in the above embodiment 5. The drive unit Y is fixed to the support plate 17 with screws or the like, and the drive roller B of the drive unit Y presses against a thin belt 7 made of wear-resistant material placed on the floor, allowing it to move back and forth. A lab jack F with a lifting motor E attached is fixed to the support plate 17 with screws or the like, and the lab jack F and storage box 6 are further fixed with screws or the like. The thin belt 7 made of wear-resistant material is used because when the drive roller B moves, it presses against the floor to provide resistance and rotate, which may cause scratches on the floor, and also serves to prevent slipping. However, if the material can prevent scratches and slipping when the drive roller B presses against the floor, the thin belt 7 is not necessary.

[0035] As shown in Figure 11, the aforementioned guide caster 2 moves along the side frame (b). Although not shown in the figure, the side frame (b) has stoppers at the front and rear that restrict the range of movement. The guide caster 2 hits the stoppers, and the storage box 6 moves within this range. Also, although not shown in Figure 11, limit switches are provided at the front and rear of either the guide caster 2, so that when the caster 2 hits the stopper during movement, the limit switches are activated. The series of operations and functions of the storage box 6 are the same as in the previously described embodiment 2.

[0036] As described above, various methods for driving the storage box in the present invention have been explained, but the invention is not limited to these. For example, the fixed shaft X and spring D of the drive source Y in Figure 10 may be omitted, the flange C may be directly fixed to the inside of the box-shaped plate 23, and multiple spring members may be interposed between the box-shaped plate 23 and the support plate 16 in Figure 10 to press the drive roller B against the guide rail 12 or the belt 7 and cause it to rotate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] (i) Mat (b) Side frame (H) Headboard (2) Footboard A Reduced-speed motor B Gear-shaped drive roller C flange D spring E Motor X fixed axis K1 Mobile Unit K2 Drive Unit K3 Drive Unit K4 Drive Unit K5 Drive Unit K6 Drive Unit 1 Guide rail 2 casters 2a caster 6 storage boxes 7 belts 8 auxiliary wheels 10 Storage Box Top 11 bases 12 guide rails 15 floor pedestal 26 Stopper

Claims

1. A bedside storage box comprising left and right side frames, a headboard and a footboard, wherein a storage box for storing items is positioned near the headboard of the bed frame, and the storage box is characterized in that it is movable back and forth along a guide rail provided on either the side frames or the floor portion below the bed frame.

2. The bedside storage box according to claim 1, characterized in that the storage box is supported via a support member, and the support member is provided with casters that slide along the guide rail.

3. The bedside storage box according to claim 1, characterized in that the storage box is moved back and forth along the guide rail via a drive unit and is also capable of moving up and down by a lifting mechanism provided on the drive unit.

4. The bedside storage box according to claim 3, wherein the drive unit comprises a drive roller that can be reversed forward and backward, and auxiliary wheels positioned in front of and behind the drive roller, and the drive roller and auxiliary wheels slide along the guide rail.

5. The bedside storage box according to claim 3, characterized in that the drive unit comprises a drive roller that can move in both forward and reverse directions and slides along a guide rail provided on the side frame, auxiliary wheels positioned in front of and behind the drive roller, and casters that slide along the floor.

6. The bedside storage box according to claim 3, characterized in that the drive unit comprises a drive roller that can slide in both forward and reverse directions along a guide rail provided on the floor, and a caster that slides along the floor.

7. The bedside storage box according to claim 6, characterized in that the drive unit is equipped with casters that slide along the side frame.

Images