Bed Lift Mechanism For A Vehicle

1 . A lifting device within a vehicle comprising:

a frame;

a wheel rotatably disposed on said frame;

a first elongated flexible member having a first end coupled to said wheel and a second end coupled to a location on said vehicle above said frame;

a second elongated flexible member having a first end coupled to said wheel and a second end coupled to a location on said vehicle above said frame, said second elongated flexible member positioned through at least a portion of said frame;

a motor disposed on said frame and coupled to said wheel so as to cause rotation of said wheel;

a first rail fixed vertically adjacent to said frame;

a second rail fixed vertically adjacent to said frame;

a first roller disposed on said frame and positioned to roll against said first rail; and

a second roller disposed on said frame and positioned to roll against said second rail;

wherein said first and second roller are disposed in said first and second rail, respectively, so as to substantially constrain horizontal movement of said frame.

2 . The lifting device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a third rail fixed vertically adjacent to said frame;

a fourth rail fixed vertically adjacent to said frame;

a third roller disposed on said frame and positioned to roll against said third rail; and

a fourth roller disposed on said frame and positioned to roll against said fourth rail;

wherein said third roller and said third rail and said fourth roller and said fourth rail are configured to maintain a horizontal position of said frame.

3 . The lifting device of claim 1 , wherein said first elongated flexible member is positioned to contact said first roller and said second elongated flexible member is positioned to contact said second roller.

4 . The lifting device of claim 1 , wherein said second end of said first elongated flexible member is coupled above said first rail.

5 . The lifting device of claim 1 , wherein said first elongated member includes a first channel extending along a length of said first rail and wherein said first elongated flexible member is substantially positioned within said first channel of said first rail.

6 . The lifting device of claim 5 , wherein said second elongated member includes a second channel extending along a length of said second rail and wherein said second elongated flexible member is substantially positioned within said second channel of said second rail.

7 . The lifting device of claim 6 , wherein said first roller is positioned within said first channel and said second roller is positioned within said second channel.

8 . The lifting device of claim 1 , further comprising a stop member positioned to contact a lower surface of said frame at predetermined elevation of said frame.

9 . The lifting device of claim 1 , wherein said first elongated flexible member and said second elongated flexible member are selected from a group comprising: straps, chain, ropes, or cord.

10 . A lifting device for furniture within a vehicle comprising:

a frame;

a winch disposed on said frame;

a first strap engaged with said winch to extend and retract, said first strap fixed to an interior of said vehicle to support at least a portion of said frame;

a second strap engaged with said winch to extend and retract, said first strap positioned along a portion of said frame and fixed to an interior of said vehicle to support at least a portion of said frame;

a first vertical channel positioned adjacent to said frame;

a second vertical channel positioned adjacent to said frame;

a first channel member disposed on said frame and at least partially positioned within said first vertical channel; and

a second channel member disposed on said frame and at least partially positioned within said second vertical channel;

wherein said first and second channel members are positioned sufficiently within said first and second vertical channel, so as to substantially restrict horizontal movement of said frame.

11 . The lifting device of claim 10 , further comprising:

a third strap engaged with said winch to extend and retract, said third strap fixed to an interior of said vehicle to support at least a portion of said frame;

a fourth strap engaged with said winch to extend and retract, said fourth strap positioned along a portion of said frame and fixed to an interior of said vehicle to support at least a portion of said frame;

a third vertical channel positioned adjacent to said frame;

a fourth vertical channel positioned adjacent to said frame;

a third channel member disposed on said frame and at least partially positioned within said third channel; and

a fourth channel member disposed on said frame and at least partially positioned within said fourth channel;

wherein said third channel member and said third vertical channel, and said fourth channel member and said fourth vertical channel are configured to restrict horizontal movement of said frame.

12 . The lifting device of claim 10 , wherein said first vertical channel and said second vertical channel are disposed within a wall of said vehicle.

13 . The lifting device of claim 10 , wherein said first channel member and said second channel member are selected from a group consisting of rollers, low friction pads, and bearings.

14 . The lifting device of claim 10 , further comprising a stop member positioned to contact a lower surface of said frame at a predetermined elevation.

15 . The lifting device of claim 10 , wherein said first strap is positioned to contact a first roller disposed on said frame and said second strap is positioned to contact a second roller disposed on said frame.

16 . The lifting device of claim 10 , wherein said first strap is removably coupled to a first mounting bracket above said first vertical channel and said second strap is removably coupled to a second mounting bracket above said second vertical channel.

17 . The lifting device of claim 10 , wherein said winch is rotated by a crank.

18 . A method of adjusting a height of a furniture frame within a vehicle comprising:

providing a furniture frame and a winch disposed on said furniture frame;

actuating said winch to move a first strap at least partially supporting said furniture frame and a second strap at least partially supporting said furniture frame, causing said furniture frame to change elevation;

constraining horizontal movement of said furniture frame by minimizing a space between a first channel and said furniture frame and between a second channel said furniture frame.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising at least partially concealing said second strap within said furniture frame.

20 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising contacting a lower surface of said furniture frame with a stop member.

21 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising at least partially concealing said first strap within a first vertical channel positioned adjacent to said furniture frame.

22 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising at least partially concealing said second strap within a second vertical channel positioned adjacent to said furniture frame.

23 . A method of moving a frame in a vehicle comprising:

providing a support structure within said vehicle;

mounting said frame within said support structure;

attaching a hoist system to said frame;

concealing said hoist system from view substantially with said support structure;

actuating said hoist system to move said frame.

24 . A method according to claim 23 , further comprising substantially constraining any horizontal movement of said frame during actuating.

25 . A lifting device within a vehicle comprising:

a frame;

a wheel rotatably disposed on a wall of said vehicle;

a first elongated flexible member having a first end coupled to said wheel and a second end coupled to a location on said vehicle above said frame;

a motor disposed on said wall of said vehicle and coupled to said wheel so as to cause rotation of said wheel;

a first rail fixed vertically adjacent to said frame and having a first channel extending along a length of said first rail;

a second rail fixed vertically adjacent to said frame and having a second channel extending along a length of said second rail;

a first roller disposed on said frame and positioned to roll within said first channel of said first rail; and

a second roller disposed on said frame and positioned to roll within said second channel of said second rail;

wherein said first and second roller are disposed in said first and second rail, respectively, so as to substantially constrain horizontal movement of said frame.

26 . The lifting device of claim 26 , wherein said motor and said wheel are fixed at a height above said first rail.

27 . The lifting device of claim 26 , further comprising:

a third rail fixed vertically adjacent to said frame and having a third channel extending along a length of said third rail;

a fourth rail fixed vertically adjacent to said frame and having a fourth channel extending along a length of said fourth rail;

a third roller disposed on said frame and positioned to roll within said third channel of said third rail; and

a fourth roller disposed on said frame and positioned to roll within said fourth channel of said fourth rail;

wherein said third roller and said third rail and said fourth roller and said fourth rail are configured to maintain a horizontal position of said frame.

28 . The lifting device of claim 26 , wherein said first elongated flexible member is positioned to contact said first roller.