IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,403,812
Granted Patent B2
US 12,403,812 · App. 17/913,922 · Granted Sep 2, 2025

Suspended support structure, in particular bed structure, for a vehicle

Inventor: Stefan Reßler (Fohnsdorf, AT)
B60P3/39A47C17/80B60J3/002B60P3/38
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,403,812
App. No.
17/913,922
Granted
Sep 2, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A support structure, in particular a bed structure, for a vehicle such as a recreational vehicle, having a support body with a support surface for supporting cargo or a person on the support surface and at least one lifting device with which the support body can be arranged in the vehicle in a suspended manner such that the support body can move relative to the vehicle in a movement direction. To achieve a high practicability, the support structure includes at least one securing device with which the support body can be secured to an inner vehicle wall of the vehicle in the movement direction.

Claims (38)

1. A support structure for a vehicle, comprising:

a support body with a support surface for supporting cargo or a person;

at least one lifting device structured and arranged to support the support body in a suspended manner in the vehicle so that the support body is movable relative to the vehicle in a movement direction; and

at least one securing device structured and arranged to limit movability of, in the movement direction, the support body to an inner vehicle wall of the vehicle.

2. The support structure according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one securing device comprises a tensioner structured and arranged to tension the support body to the inner vehicle wall.

3. The support structure according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one securing device comprises a tensioner adjusting device with which a usable length of the tensioner is variable or adjusted to tension the support body to the inner vehicle wall.

4. The support structure according to claim 2 , wherein the tensioner comprises a first securing element connectable in a form fit and/or force fit to a second securing element that is structured to correspond in shape to the first securing element and is mountable on the inner vehicle wall, in that one of the first or second securing element is insertable into the other of the first or second securing element.

5. The support structure according to claim 4 , wherein multiple second securing elements are embodied as part of a securing rail, and

wherein the securing rail is mountable on the inner vehicle wall.

6. The support structure according to claim 1 , wherein the support body is reversibly height-adjustable in a use state via the at least one lifting device.

7. The support structure according to claim 6 , wherein the at least one lifting device comprises at least one lifter structured and arranged to support the support body in a suspended manner, wherein a usable length of the at least one lifter is variable or adjustable to lower or raise the support body.

8. The support structure according to claim 7 , wherein the at least one lifting device comprises at least one lifter winder structured to actuate the at least one lifter, so that the usable length thereof is varied or adjusted.

9. The support structure according to claim 6 , wherein the at least one lifting device is embodied or controllable such that an angular position or inclination of the support surface is maintained during a height adjustment or lowering and/or raising of the support body.

10. The support structure according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one securing device comprises at least one spring element arranged one of:

to secure the support body to the inner vehicle wall, or

to tension the support body to the inner vehicle wall,

wherein the support body is loaded with a spring force of the at least one spring element, so that a movement of the support body in the movement direction against the spring force is enabled to a limited extent.

11. The support structure according to claim 10 , wherein the at least one securing device comprises a tensioner structured and arranged to tension the support body to the inner vehicle wall, and

wherein the spring force of the at least one spring element is applied to the tensioner.

12. The support structure according to claim 10 , wherein the at least one securing device comprises an operating device with which the spring force is adjustable.

13. The support structure according to claim 12 , wherein a deflection of the at least one spring element is changeable using the operating device in order to adjust the spring force.

14. The support structure according to claim 12 , wherein the at least one securing device comprises a tensioner structured and arranged to tension the support body to the inner vehicle wall, and

wherein the operating device is embodied to adjust a tension of the tensioner in a securing state in order to change the deflection of the at least one spring element.

15. The support structure according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one spring element is embodied with a helical spring, wherein separating pieces are arranged between coils of the helical spring in order to prevent directly adjacent coils from colliding with one another.

16. The support structure according to claim 1 , wherein the support structure comprises at least one spacer element which, in a use state, is arranged between the support body and the inner vehicle wall, so that the support body is pressable against the at least one spacer element in the securing state.

17. The support structure according to claim 16 , wherein the at least one spacer element comprises a fixing device with which the at least one spacer element is magnetically secured to the support body or the inner vehicle wall.

18. The support structure according to claim 1 , wherein the support body comprises at least one awning with an awning cover, and

wherein the awning cover is connected to an upper structure of the support body and is movable to be extended or retracted relative to the upper structure.

19. The support structure according to claim 1 , wherein the support body comprises a table formed with a table top, and

wherein the table top is arranged to be movable relative to the support surface.

20. A vehicle having a support structure according to claim 1 ,

wherein the support structure is arranged in a suspended manner in the vehicle using the at least one lifting device such that the support structure is movable relative to the vehicle in the movement direction, and

wherein the support structure is securable in the movement direction to the inner vehicle wall of the vehicle using the at least one securing device.

21. The vehicle according to claim 20 , wherein the support body comprises at least one awning, wherein the at least one awning is moveable to be extended or retracted through an open door of the vehicle.

22. The vehicle according to claim 21 , wherein the vehicle comprises a stay placement device that is movable relative to a body of the vehicle into a bracing position protruding away from the body, in order to brace an awning stay of the at least one awning against an awning cover in the bracing position using the stay placement device.

23. The vehicle according to claim 22 , wherein the stay placement device is formed with an extendable compartment in order to place or brace the awning stay on a base surface of the compartment in an extended state of the compartment.

24. The support structure according to claim 1 being a bed structure.

25. The support structure according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is a recreational vehicle.

Priority Claims (1)
AT A 50248/2020 · Mar 25, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230256890A1 · Aug 17, 2023
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