IP Library Granted Patent US 11,178,974
Granted Patent B2
US 11,178,974 · App. 16/747,842 · Granted Nov 23, 2021

Foldable connection mechanism and adjustable bed system therewith

Inventors: Jian Xie (Jiangsu, CN); Yifan Mao (Jiangsu, CN); Jinquan Ren (Jiangsu, CN); Hailong Sun (Jiangsu, CN)
Assignee: NISCO CO., LTD
A47C20/041A47C19/122
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,178,974
App. No.
16/747,842
Granted
Nov 23, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

An adjustable bed system includes first and second frames; a back lifting assembly having a back lifting bracket pivotally connected to the first frame and a back lifting actuator pivotally connected between the back lifting bracket and the first frame for operably driving the back lifting bracket to pivotally move in an upward or downward rotating direction relative to the first frame; a leg lifting assembly having a leg lifting bracket pivotally connected to the second frame structure and a leg lifting actuator pivotally connected between the leg lifting bracket and the second frame for operably driving the leg lifting bracket to pivotally move in an upward or downward rotating direction relative to the second frame; and a foldable connection mechanism connecting the first and second frames such that the first and second frames are pivotally foldable relative to one another at the connection mechanism.

Claims (28)

1. A foldable connection mechanism used in an adjustable bed system having a first frame and a second frame, comprising at least one connecting bracket assembly, each connecting bracket assembly comprising:

a latch; and

a first hinge bracket having a first end portion and a second end portion, and a second hinge bracket having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first hinge bracket and the second hinge bracket are pivotally connected to one another through a pivot at the first ends, and each of the first hinge bracket and the second hinge bracket has a groove defined in the second end portion of said hinge bracket,

wherein in use, the first hinge bracket and the second hinge bracket are respectively mounted on two adjacent end portions of the first frame and the second frame of the adjustable bed system such that when the latch is received in the grooves of the first hinge bracket and the second hinge bracket, the first frame and the second frame are locked and aligned in the same plane, and when the latch is off at least one of the grooves of the first hinge bracket and the second hinge bracket, the first frame and the second frame are unlocked and pivotally foldable to each other through the pivot,

wherein each connecting bracket assembly further comprises a frame mounting bracket having a body and two end tabs vertically extended from the body, and two protrusions outwards protruded from the two end tabs, respectively, and wherein in use, the body of the frame mounting bracket is mounted on one of the first frame and the second frame proximal to a corresponding one of the first hinge bracket and the second hinge bracket.

2. The foldable connection mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the latch comprises a pin and a tab having a first end vertically attached to a first end of the pin and a second end portion defining a notch, and wherein in use, when the pin is placed in the grooves of the first hinge bracket and the second hinge bracket and the tab is positioned such that the proximal protrusion of the frame mounting bracket is received in the notch, the first frame and the second frame are locked and aligned in the same plane, and when the pin is off at least one of the grooves of the first hinge bracket and the second hinge bracket the tab is positioned such that the distal protrusion of the frame mounting bracket is received in the notch, the first frame and the second frame are unlocked and pivotally foldable to each other through the pivot.

3. An adjustable bed system, comprising:

a base frame structure having a first frame and a second frame; and

a foldable connection mechanism connecting the first frame and the second frame such that the first frame and the second frame are pivotally foldable relative to one another at the foldable connection mechanism, wherein the foldable connection mechanism comprises at least one connecting bracket assembly, each connecting bracket assembly comprising:

a latch; and

a first hinge bracket having a first end portion and a second end portion, and a second hinge bracket having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first hinge bracket and the second hinge bracket are pivotally connected to one another through a pivot at the first ends, and each of the first hinge bracket and the second hinge bracket has a groove defined in the second end portion of said hinge bracket,

wherein in use, the first hinge bracket and the second hinge bracket are respectively mounted on two adjacent end portions of the first frame and the second frame of the adjustable bed system such that when the latch is received in the grooves of the first hinge bracket and the second hinge bracket, the first frame and the second frame are locked and aligned in the same plane, and when the latch is off at least one of the grooves of the first hinge bracket and the second hinge bracket, the first frame and the second frame are unlocked and pivotally foldable to each other through the pivot,

wherein each connecting bracket assembly further comprises a frame mounting bracket having a body and two end tabs vertically extended from the body, and two protrusions outwards protruded from the two end tabs, respectively, and wherein in use, the body of the frame mounting bracket is mounted on one of the first frame and the second frame proximal to a corresponding one of the first hinge bracket and the second hinge bracket.

4. The adjustable bed system of claim 3 , wherein the latch comprises a pin and a tab having a first end vertically attached to a first end of the pin and a second end portion defining a notch, and wherein in use, when the pin is placed in the grooves of the first hinge bracket and the second hinge bracket and the tab is positioned such that the proximal protrusion of the frame mounting bracket is received in the notch, the first frame and the second frame are locked and aligned in the same plane, and when the pin is off at least one of the grooves of the first hinge bracket and the second hinge bracket the tab is positioned such that the distal protrusion of the frame mounting bracket is received in the notch, the first frame and the second frame are unlocked and pivotally foldable to each other through the pivot.

5. The adjustable bed system of claim 3 , wherein each of the first and second frames comprises:

a pair of side rails and being transversely spaced and longitudinally extended and being parallel to each other, each side rail and having a first end and an opposite, second end; and

an upper rail and a lower rail being longitudinally spaced and transversely extended, two ends of the upper rail being rigidly connected to the first ends of the pair of side rails and, and two ends of lower rail being rigidly connected to the second ends of the pair of side rails and, such that the upper rail and the lower rail and the pair of side rails are co-planar in a rectangle form.

6. The adjustable bed system of claim 3 , further comprising at least one of a back lifting assembly and a leg lifting assembly,

wherein the back lifting assembly comprises a back lifting bracket pivotally connected to the first frame, and at least one back lifting actuator pivotally connected between the back lifting bracket and the first frame for operably driving the back lifting bracket to pivotally move in an upward rotating direction or a downward rotating direction relative to the first frame; and

wherein the leg lifting assembly comprises a leg lifting bracket pivotally connected to the second frame structure, and at least one leg lifting actuator pivotally connected between the leg lifting bracket and the second frame for operably driving the leg lifting bracket to pivotally move in an upward rotating direction or a downward rotating direction relative to the second frame.

7. The adjustable bed system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one back lifting actuator comprises a motor member, an outer tube extending from the motor member, and an activation rod having a first end portion received in the outer tube and an opposite, second end portion, wherein the activation rod is engaged with the motor member and configured to be telescopically movable relative to the outer tube according to a direction of motor rotation, wherein the motor member is pivotally connected to the first frame and the second end portion of the activation rod pivotally connected to the back lifting bracket, or wherein the motor member is pivotally connected to the back lifting bracket and the second end portion of the activation rod pivotally connected to the first frame.

8. The adjustable bed system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one leg lifting actuator comprises the at least one back lifting actuator comprises a motor member, an outer tube extending from the motor member, and an activation rod having a first end portion received in the outer tube and an opposite, second end portion, wherein the activation rod is engaged with the motor member and configured to be telescopically movable relative to the outer tube according to a direction of motor rotation, wherein the motor member is pivotally connected to the second frame and the second end portion of the activation rod pivotally connected to the leg lifting bracket, or wherein the motor member is pivotally connected to the leg lifting bracket and the second end portion of the activation rod pivotally connected to the second frame.

9. The adjustable bed system of claim 6 , further comprising a plurality of platforms disposed on the base frame structure and coupled with the back lifting assembly and the leg lifting assembly such that positions of at least one or more of the plurality of platforms are adjustable in accordance with operations of the back lifting assembly and the leg lifting assembly.

10. The adjustable bed system of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of platforms comprises

at least one seat platform and mounted on the two side rails of the base frame structure;

a back platform coupled to the back lifting assembly, such that the back platform is operably rotatable around its lower edge in a back platform downward rotating direction or a back platform upward rotating direction; and

a thigh platform and a leg platform coupled to the led lifting assembly, such that the thigh platform is rotatable around its upper edge in a thigh platform downward rotating direction or a thigh platform upward rotating direction, and the leg platform is rotatable around its upper edge in a leg platform downward rotating direction or a led platform upward rotating direction.

11. The adjustable bed system of claim 10 , further comprising a controller configured to control operations of the at least one back lifting actuator and the at least one leg lifting actuator, respectively, so as to lift individually or cooperatively the back platform, the thigh platform, and the leg platform in desired positions.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 21, 2020
From: XIE, JIAN; MAO, YIFAN; REN, JINQUAN; SUN, HAILONG
To: NISCO CO., LTD
Reel/Frame 051652/0636 →
Continuity (7)
Continuation In Part 16729700 · Dec 30, 2019
Provisional Application 62796154 · Jan 24, 2019
Provisional Application 62796172 · Jan 24, 2019
Provisional Application 62789062 · Jan 7, 2019
Provisional Application 62789047 · Jan 7, 2019
Provisional Application 62790583 · Jan 10, 2019
Related Publication 20200214463A1 · Jul 9, 2020