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US 7,712,168 B2Granted
Articulating bed and method of using the same
OwnerWillie W. Kiminventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed are an articulating bed and methods of using the bed. The articulating bed includes a top frame and one or two underlying frames. The top frame includes a first side section and a second side section. One of the side sections is configured to slide in a lateral direction of the bed so as to vary a width of the bed. Further, the sections are configured to hingedly rotate. Various methods include sliding and hingedly rotating the side sections. Further, the methods includes sitting up a person lying on the bed and changing liners while the person is staying on the bed, using the sliding and hinged rotation features.
Claims24
A bed comprising:
- a first frame comprising a first side section and a second side section, wherein the first and second side sections are formed at about the same level so as to in combination substantially evenly support a mattress thereupon;
- a second frame supporting the first frame;
- and
- wherein the first side section is configured to slide in a lateral direction of the bed relative to the second frame so as to vary a width of the bed, wherein the first side section is further configured to hingedly rotate about a hinge axis extending in a longitudinal direction of the bed only when a substantial portion of the first side section is slid outwardly in the lateral direction relative to the second frame.
1 more element
A bed comprising:
- a first frame comprising a first side section and a second side section, wherein the first and second side sections are formed at about the same level so as to in combination substantially evenly support a mattress thereupon;
- a second frame underlying the first frame, wherein the first frame is configured to slide in a lateral direction of the bed relative to the second frame between a first position and a second position;
- a sliding mechanism configured to power sliding of the first frame between the first position and the second position, wherein in the first position, the first frame substantially eclipses the second frame when viewed from the top, and wherein in the second position, a substantial portion of the second frame is exposed when viewed from the top;
- a rotating mechanism configured to hingedly rotate the first side section about a longitudinal direction of the bed when the first frame is at the second position;
- a center mattress comprising a first side edge and a second side edge, wherein in the first position of the first frame, the center mattress is placed over the first frame substantially eclipsing the second frame when viewed from the top;
- and
- a first side mattress depending from the center mattress along the first side edge of the center mattress, wherein in the first position of the first frame, the first side mattress is not supported by either the first frame or the second frame, whereas in the second position of the first frame, the first side mattress is supported by the second frame.
4 more elements
A method of operating a bed, comprising:
- providing a bed comprising a first frame and a second frame underlying the first frame, wherein the first frame comprises a first side section and a second side section, wherein the first and second side sections provide a mattress support area configured to support a mattress, wherein the mattress support area has a width, which is a distance between two ends of the bed in a lateral direction;
- sliding the first side section relative to the second frame in the lateral direction of the bed so as to vary the width throughout the bed's full length in a longitudinal direction that is perpendicular to the lateral direction;
- and
- rotating the first side section about a longitudinal direction of the bed when a substantial portion of the first side section is slid outwardly in the lateral direction relative to the second frame.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.