US 4,782,541 AGranted

Earthquake protective bed

OwnerDavid C. Tuchmaninventor

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A protective bed suitable for protecting an occupant or occupants during major catastrophies resulting in falling debris includes a canopy made of steel mesh which is resistant to penetration by and accumulation of falling debris. The canopy covers the lower section of the bed. The canopy is supported by telescoping tubes with compression springs therein arranged to permit the canopy to remain in a noraml upper or raised position and to drop to a lower position with attendant compression of the spring to convert or absorb the energy of the falling debris, thereby minimizing damage to the bed structure and maximizing the degree of safety to the occupant or occupants of the bed. A padded guard rail extends about the periphery of the bed to prevent ejection of the occupant or occupants during violent movements of the bed, as might occur during an earthquake or tornado. Selected portions of the bed, including the canopy, the telescoping tubes, etc. can be covered with decorative materials, such as fabric, to render the functional protective structure asethetically pleasing.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A protective bed comprising a lower section forming a base suitable for supporting a mattress;

an upper section arranged above and substantially covering said lower section;
interconnecting means for maintaining said upper and lower sections spaced at least a predetermined distance from each other to define an occupant space, said upper section being resistant to penetration by falling debris, whereby an occupant within said occupant space is shielded between said upper and lower sections and protected from impact of falling debris, such as during an earthquake, wherein said interconnecting means comprises a plurality of telescoping tubes extending between said upper and lower sections for enabling movement of said upper section between upper and lower positions relative to said lower section, said upper section normally being disposed in said upper position and moving to said lower position in response to the weight of debris accumulated on said upper section;
and maintaining means for maintaining said upper section in said upper position prior to impact by and accumulation of debris on said upper section, and wherein said maintaining means comprises frangible members which extend through at least one tube of each set of telescoping tubes which prevent collapse of said telescoping tubes prior to accumulation of debris on said upper section and resulting fraction of said frangible members.

A protective bed comprising a lower section forming a base suitable for supporting a mattress;

an upper section arranged above and substantially covering said lower section;
interconnecting means for maintaining said upper and lower sections spaced at least a predetermined distance from each other to define an occupant space, said upper section being resistant to penetration by falling debris, whereby an occupant within said occupant space is shielded between said upper and lower sections and protected from impact of falling debris, such as during an earthquake, and energy conversion means for dissipating the energy of falling debris and thereby minimizing damage to the bed and maximizing the safety to the occupant(s) thereof, said interconnecting means comprising a plurality of telescoping tubes extending between said upper and lower sections for enabling movement of said upper section between upper and lower positions relative to said lower section, said upper section normally being disposed in said upper position and moving to said lower position in response to the weight of debris accumulated on said upper section;
and wherein said energy conversion means comprises a compression spring within said telescoping tubes which undergoes compression when said upper section moves from said upper to said lower positions, whereby said compression spring absorbs the energy of the falling debris and reduces the stresses imparted to the bed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.