US1454523A - Automatic locking device for wall-bed footpieces - Google Patents

Description

May 8, 1923.

N. SINCLAIR AUTOMATIC LOCKING DEVICE FOR WALL BED FOOTPIECES Filed April 29 1922 IIVVE/VTU/P N. SM/IL/VR k A 7 7 S v Patented May 8, 1923.

NEIL SINCLAIR, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO RIP VAN WIN'KLE WALL BED 00., OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMATIC LOOKING DEVICE FOR WALL-BED FOOTPIECES.

Application filed April 29,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NEIL SINCLAIR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in- Automatic Locking Devices for Wall-Bed Footpieces, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in wall and other types of beds wherein the foot pieces or legs are adapted to be folded with relation to the bed frames when the bed frames are disposed in out-of-the-way position, and has particular reference to an automatic locking device which when the bed is extended for use will automatically lock the foot piece or legs in proper supporting position and when the bed is moved so as to be folded or in such manner that the bed is tilted and the weight of the bed is taken off the legs, said locking means will automatically release and permit the foot piece or legs to swing by force of gravity, into folded position.

The primary object of the invention is to provide simply constructed, inexpensive,

compactly arranged mechanism which willv be comparatively inconspicuous and which will operate in a reliable manner to automatically lock the legs when the bed is moved into position for use and release the legs so that they will automatically swing into outof-the-way position when the bed is folded whereby in the latter case, injury to the bed, floor and walls is prevented.

The invention possesses other advantages and features some of which, with the foregoing will be set forth at length in the following description where I shall outline in full that form of the invention which I have selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the present specification. In said drawings I have shown one form of the construction of my invention, but it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to such form since the invention as expressed in the claims may be embodied in a plurality of forms.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents a fragmentary perspective view of a wall bed showing the looking device of my invention as it would appear when looking the foot piece or legs.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken thru the foot piece, certain parts of which being re 1922. Serial No. 557,365.

moved, particularly illustrating the locking mechanism of my invention as when in looking position.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is asectional View partly in elevation of a. bed foot piece and the locking mechanism showing thelatter as when released, when the bed has been partly lifted.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the foot piece in folded or out-ofthe-way position as assumed when the bed is likewise disposed in out-of-the-way position.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, 1 designates a bed frame (only part of which is shown), having fixed to its outer end a foot rail 2 to which is attached a cross bar 3, to which latter sup-- porting legs 4 and 5 are pivoted or hinged. The legs 4: and 5 have sleeves 6 on their upper ends, which sleeves are loosely mounted on the bar 3. A cross rod 7 is secured to and joins the legs 4 and 5.

The mechanism of my invention comprises essentially a link 8 having one end pivoted as at 9 to'theleg 4E. and other elements hereinafter described. The link 8 is provided with a longitudinal slot 10 through which slot a headed screw or pin 11 extends and is fixed to a collar 12 made fast upon one of the side rails 13 of the bed frame 1. The link 8 is provided with a notch 14 disposed adjacent to one end of the slot 10, which notch is adapted to receive the screw or pin 11 when the legs 4 and 5 are in supporting position whereby the said leg will be locked in such position.

The means for automatically releasing the legs or in other words lifting the link 8 so that the notch 14 is clear of the screw 11. comprises in part a pendulum member 15 pivoted at its upper end as at 16 to an att-a chment .17 carried on he front angle piece 100 18 of the bed frame. The lower end of the pendulum 15 carries a. weight 19 wherehv .when the bed is in, position for use. said pendulum member will hang vertically as shown in Fig. 2. and when the bed is lifted from the horizontal as in moving it to an out-of-the-way osition. said pendulum will swing rearwardly as shown in Fig. 4. Adjace-nt to its upper end the pendulum carries a projection 20 which is adapted to engage no a lever 21, which lever is pivoted on the screw 11 and is provided on one side of its pivot point with a lug or projection engaging in the slot 10.

Vhen a bed equipped with a device of my invention is moved into position for use, the legs 4 and 5 or better the foot piece, will swing into upright supporting position and the screw or pin 11 will engage in the notch 1a whereupon the foot piece will be locked. lVhen the bed is lifted as in moving the same to out-of-the-way position, the pendulum 15 will swing so as to cause the projection 20 to engage with and rock the lever 2L whereupon the pin or lug 22 will be moved arcuately and upwardly against the upper edge of the slot 10 and will lift the link 8 until the notch 1% is disengaged from the screw 11 and the link is free to slide. The weight of the legs or foot piece will cause them to swing, as shown in Fig. 4. As the bed is moved into upright position, the legs will swing so as to lie close to the under side of the bed frame as shown in Fig. 5. The weight member 19 may be provided with a rubber bumper ring 23 to prevent the weight from striking and scratching the adjacent parts of the bed and foot piece and eliminate noise.

In wall beds of the type which swing into upright position and then turn on pivots so as to extend into wall recesses or closets, unless the legs or foot pieces are folded in, said legs or foot pieces will, in some instances, strike the edges of the opening in the closet or recess and either damage the legs or mar the wood work of the closet. It frequently happens that the person folding the bed will forget to move the legs into out-of-t-l1eway position. With the device of my invention the movement of the foot piece or legs into folded and out-of-theway position takes place automatically coineident with the lifting and swinging of the connected with the foot piece, an element on the bed frame with which said member slidably engages, said pivoted member having a notch therein arranged to receive the element and lock the member and foot piece against movement when the bed is in position of use, a lever pivotally connected with the bed frame and having a portion to one side of its pivot engaged with and arranged to move said pivoted member out of locking position upon rocking of the lever and aswinging member acting to rock said lever when the bed is moved out of position of use.

2. In combination with a bed adapted to be moved into and out of position for use, of a foot piece mounted on said bed to automatically swing into bed supporting and out of the way positions, a member pivoted to the foot piece having sliding connection with said bed, a member fixed to the bed and into and out of locking engagement with which said pivoted member, is moved, a le-' ver having pivot connections with the bed arranged to move said pivoted member out of locking engagement with said locking member and a swinging member acting to engage and rock said lever when the bed is moved out of position of use.

NEIL SINCLAIR.

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