Modular Folding Bed with Console Supports for Stable Wide Double Beds

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing folding bed systems require robust body components to handle high forces and torques, necessitating complex assembly and transport, and cannot be designed as stable double beds with a width over 160 cm without a wide central gap, or without visible swivel fittings.

Innovation Solution

A modular folding bed system with self-supporting console supports between the bed frame's longitudinal beams, eliminating the need for solid side walls and allowing compact, cost-effective swivel fittings, and incorporating gas pressure springs for ease of pivoting and stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If robust body components are used to handle high forces and torques, then mechanical stability is improved, but assembly and transport complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical stabilityVSAvoidassembly and transport complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The base frame is divided into modular components: side panels, console supports, and cross members that can be separately manufactured and assembled. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while simplifying overall assembly and transport operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The swivel fittings are extracted from the body side walls and repositioned to be supported by console supports that extend between the longitudinal beams. This extraction eliminates the need for robust body components to handle swivel forces, thereby reducing assembly and transport complexity while maintaining mechanical stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Stability of the object's composition

If solid side walls extending above pivot fittings are used, then structural stability is improved, but a wide central gap is created disrupting sleeping comfort

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidsleeping comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The side walls are extracted from their traditional position above the pivot fittings and repositioned to extend only up to the level of the longitudinal beams. The pivot fittings are simultaneously extracted from the side walls and repositioned to be supported by console supports. This dual extraction eliminates the wide central gap while maintaining structural stability through the console support mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The support structure for pivot fittings transitions from a vertical dimension (side walls extending above pivot points) to a horizontal dimension (console supports extending between longitudinal beams). This dimensional change allows the side walls to be lower, eliminating the central gap while maintaining stability through the horizontal console support structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of operation

If swivel fittings are supported by body side walls, then pivot function is achieved, but visible fittings and complex body construction are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepivot functionVSAvoidbody construction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The swivel fittings are extracted from the body side walls and repositioned to be supported by console supports that extend between the longitudinal beams. This extraction achieves two objectives: the pivot function is maintained while the fittings become invisible when the bed frame is swung out, and the body construction is simplified as it no longer needs to provide structural support for the swivel mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Console supports are introduced as intermediary elements between the longitudinal beams and the swivel fittings. These console supports serve as the new support structure for the pivot fittings, eliminating the need for the body side walls to provide this function. This intermediary structure simplifies body construction while maintaining pivot functionality and achieving invisible fittings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of operation

If bed frame width is increased to over 160 cm, then sleeping comfort is improved, but deflection and noise problems occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesleeping comfortVSAvoiddeflection and noise
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The base frame is segmented into multiple support elements: side panels, console supports, and cross members. This segmentation distributes the load across multiple points rather than relying on a single continuous structure, reducing deflection and noise while allowing the bed frame to span wider distances for improved sleeping comfort.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The console supports extend beyond the minimum required length to provide adequate support for the swivel fittings and distribute loads effectively. This excessive action ensures that even with bed frame widths over 160 cm, the structure maintains sufficient rigidity to prevent deflection and noise while accommodating the wider sleeping surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables a stable, durable double bed design with a width over 160 cm and minimal central gap, simplifying assembly and transport by using prefabricated modules with invisible swivel fittings and enhanced mechanical stability.

Implementation Method 1

incorporating gas pressure springs for ease of pivoting and stability

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas pressure springs: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP4429523B1Modular folding bed system, installation assembly, and folding bed module for same
Publication Date: 2025.07.16 WERNER MARIO
  • EP4429523B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4429523B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4429523B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a folding bed module (3, 3.1, 3.2) for a modular folding bed system (1), comprising a base frame (5, 5.1, 5.2) which is supported on the floor and comprising a bed frame (6, 6.1, 6.2) which is surrounded by said base frame (5, 5.1, 5.2) at a head end (12) and is held on the base frame in a pivotal manner via at least one pivoting fitting (11) with a pivot axis oriented in a horizontal width direction (B), said bed frame having two elongate longitudinal supports (8) which are held opposite each other in a flush manner in the width direction (B) and which are connected via at least one transverse member (10), wherein the bed frame (6, 6.1, 6.2) can be brought back and forth between a non-use position, in which the bed frame (6, 6.1, 6.2) extends vertically and is supported on the base frame (5, 5.1, 5.2), into a use position, in which the bed frame (6, 6.1, 6.2) extends horizontally and such that a foot end (13) thereof, lying opposite the head end (12), is pivoted out towards the front side (29) and in any case the bed frame is supported on the base frame (5, 5.1, 5.2) in the region of the head end (12), and the base frame (5, 5.1, 5.2) has two equally long console supports (9) which are flush relative to each other and are arranged at the level of the longitudinal supports (8) with respect to the width direction (B) or preferably between the longitudinal supports (8) of the bed frame (6, 6.1, 6.2) and on which the bed frame (6, 6.1, 62) is supported in the region of the head end (12) in any case. The invention additionally relates to an installation assembly and to a modular folding bed system (1).