Retractable support surface and method of assembling the same

A method of assembling a support surface assembly, the method comprising:

• pivotally coupling a plurality of slats to one another to form a support surface, wherein each slat includes a first end opening and a second end opening opposite the first end opening;
• retractably coupling the support surface to a housing such that the support surface is retractable between a deployed position and a stored position, wherein the housing comprises a magnet positioned adjacent a housing opening;
• and
• positioning a rod in the first end opening of at least one slat, wherein the rod is positioned entirely within the first end opening of the at least one slat in the stored position and the rod is positioned partially within the second end opening of an adjacent slat in the deployed position, wherein the magnet slides the rod from the stored position to the deployed position.

A support surface assembly comprising:

• a housing comprising a chamber and an opening;
• a support surface retractably coupled to the housing between a deployed position and a stored position, wherein the support surface comprises a plurality of slats pivotally coupled together, wherein each slat comprises a first end opening and a second end opening opposite the first end opening;
• and
• a plurality of rods associated with a corresponding slat of the plurality of slats, wherein each rod is positioned entirely within the first end opening of a first slat in the stored position and each rod is positioned partially within the second end opening of an adjacent second slat in the deployed position, wherein each slat comprises at least one magnet to retain each rod in the deployed position or the stored position.

A method of assembling a support surface assembly, the method comprising:

• pivotally coupling a plurality of slats to one another to form a support surface, wherein each slat includes a first end opening and a second end opening opposite the first end opening;
• retractably coupling the support surface to a housing such that the support surface is retractable between a deployed position and a stored positon;
• and
• positioning a rod in the first end opening of at least one slat, wherein the rod is positioned entirely within the first end opening of the at least one slat in the stored position and the rod is positioned partially within the second end opening of an adjacent slat in the deployed position, wherein each slat includes at least one magnet to retain each rod in the deployed position or the stored position.