Sleeper bunk system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11685304-B2
Application number	US-202016911505-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 25, 2020
Priority date	Jun 25, 2019
Publication date	Jun 27, 2023
Grant date	Jun 27, 2023

Abstract

In one aspect, a sleeper bunk is provided that includes a support for a mattress. The support includes an assembly of support portions each having at least one surface arranged to support an underside of the mattress. The sleeper bunk includes at least one mount connected to the support and configured to facilitate movement of the support and the mattress thereon between a raised orientation and a lowered orientation. The support portions have overlapping portions configured to distribute a load from the mattress between the support portions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sleeper bunk system comprising:
a support of a first material for supporting a mattress;
at least one mount configured to pivotally connect the support to a vehicle surface, the at least one mount facilitating pivoting of the support between an upper orientation and a lower orientation;
the support including an assembly of support portions side-by-side one another in a first direction, the support portions connected together to resist a load from the mattress in a second direction transverse to the first direction with the support in the lower orientation;
at least one frame member of a second material different than the first material, the frame member connected to the support portions and resisting relative movement of the support portions; and
wherein the support portions include overlapping portions that overlap in the second direction.

2. The sleeper bunk system of claim 1 wherein the at least one frame member includes a pair of frame members connected to the support portions at locations that are spaced apart from one another.

3. The sleeper bunk system of claim 1 wherein the support is elongated along an axis and has an axial length sized to receive the mattress; and
wherein the frame member extends axially along the support portions.

4. The sleeper bunk system of claim 3 wherein the at least one frame member includes a pair of frame members on opposite sides of the support.

5. The sleeper bunk system of claim 1 wherein the support portions form at least one lap joint therebetween.

6. The sleeper bunk system of claim 1 wherein the support portions include walls extending transverse to the first direction and arranged to abut to limit relative movement of the support portions.

7. The sleeper bunk system of claim 1 wherein the first material is a plastic material and the second material is a metallic material.

8. The sleeper bunk system of claim 1 wherein the support portions each include lattice members and vertices connecting the lattice members; and
wherein the vertices include openings and annular walls extending about the openings.

9. The sleeper bunk system of claim 1 wherein the frame member is elongated and has a length; and
wherein the length of the frame member is parallel to the first direction such that the support portions are side-by-side one another along the length of the frame member.

10. The sleeper bunk system of claim 1 wherein the frame member is elongated and has a length; and
wherein the support portions are secured to the frame member at spaced apart locations along the length of the frame member.

11. The sleeper bunk of claim 1 wherein the support portions each have a unitary, one-piece construction and are made of plastic.

12. The sleeper bunk system of claim 1 wherein the frame member includes a lower wall portion having an upper surface to support lower surfaces of the support portions;
wherein the frame member includes an upper wall portion;
wherein the frame member includes an intermediate wall portion connecting the lower wall portion and the upper wall portion; and
wherein the intermediate wall portion extends transverse to the lower wall portion.

13. The sleeper bunk of claim 1 wherein the support portions include mating projections and recesses to transfer loading between the support portions.

14. The sleeper bunk system of claim 1 further comprising at least one latch to contact a striker and an actuator operable to shift the latch between engaged and disengaged positions.

15. The sleeper bunk system of claim 1 further comprising:
the mattress; and
a mattress base having a lower surface and an upper surface opposite the lower surface;
wherein the mattress base lower surface is supported on upper surfaces of the support portions; and
wherein the mattress is supported on the mattress base upper surface.

16. The sleeper bunk of claim 1 wherein the first and second directions are perpendicular to one another.

17. The sleeper bunk of claim 1 wherein at least one of the support portions includes a through opening, the sleeper bunk further comprising:
at least one latch to contact a striker;
an actuator;
a cable operatively connected to the at least one latch and the actuator, the cable extending in the through opening of the at least one of the support portions; and
wherein the actuator is operable to shift the latch between engaged and disengaged positions via the cable.

18. The sleeper bunk of claim 1 wherein the support portions are injection molded plastic parts.

19. The sleeper bunk of claim 1 further comprising one or more storage compartments mounted to an underside of the support portions.

20. The sleeper bunk of claim 1 further comprising a ladder pivotally mounted to the frame member.

21. A sleeper bunk comprising:
a support of a first material for supporting a mattress;
at least one mount configured to pivotally connect the support to a vehicle surface, the at least one mount facilitating pivoting of the support between an upper orientation and a lower orientation;
the support including an assembly of support portions side-by-side one another in a first direction, the support portions connected together to resist a load from the mattress in a second direction transverse to the first direction with the support in the lower orientation;
at least one frame member of a second material different than the first material, the frame member connected to the support portions and resisting relative movement of the support portions;
wherein the at least one frame member comprises a first elongate frame member and a second elongate frame member;
wherein the support portions each include a base portion, a front wall portion upstanding from the base portion, and a rear wall portion upstanding from the base portion; and
wherein the front wall portion is secured to the first elongate frame member and the rear wall portion is secured to the second elongate frame member.

22. The sleeper bunk of claim 21 wherein the first and second elongate frame members includes openings;
wherein the front wall portions and rear wall portions of the support members include openings aligned with the openings of the first and second elongate frame members; and
fasteners extending through the openings of the first and second elongate frame members and the openings of the front wall portions and rear wall portions to secure the support portions to the first and second elongate frame members.

23. The sleeper bunk of claim 21 wherein the base portion of each support portion has an upper surface to support the mattress;
wherein the first and second elongate frame members each include a lower wall portion to support lower surfaces of the base portions of the support portions and an intermediate wall extending transverse to the lower wall portion;
wherein the base portions of the support members include lower openings;
wherein the lower wall portions of the first and second elongate frame members include lower openings aligned with the lower openings of the support members; and
fasteners extending through the lower openings of the first and second elongate frame members and the lower openings of the base portions of the support portions.

24. A sleeper bunk comprising:
a support of a first material for supporting a mattress;
at least one mount configured to pivotally connect the support to a vehicle surface, the at least one mount facilita

Assignees

• Cons Metco Inc

Inventors

• Osorio Julian
• Lucaciu Damian
• Green Stephen
• Boulton Terence H

Classifications

• B60P3/39 Primary

  expansible, collapsible or repositionable elements adapted to support a bed, e.g. wall portions · CPC title

• B60N3/008 Primary

  of beds · CPC title

• B60P3/38

  Sleeping arrangements {, e.g. living or sleeping accommodation on the roof of the vehicle} · CPC title