Foldable sleeping accommodations for attachment to a road vehicle

Claim 2

In a portable, expandable and collapsible mechanism for sleeping use, described in its expanded configuration, comprising in combination: two dimensionally similar rigid members, as the lower and upper sleeping decks, for the support and retention of bedding, cooperatively oriented one above the other breadthwise but offset lengthwise on horizontal and parallel planes with adult sleeping space between; and a structural-support-actuating means for interconnecting the sleeping decks, comprised of separate upstanding shafts affixed by pivotal attachment between two opposite lateral margins of the sleeping decks so that a change in shaft attitude form upstanding to nearly horizontal position will lower the upper sleeping deck to a juxtaposition above the lower sleeping deck, forming a compact configuration for transport.

Claim 3

In an expandable and collapsible device for two-level sleeping use and transport on a vehicle, described in its expanded configuration, comprising in combination, two similar quadrangular load-sustaining members, as the lower and upper sleeping decks, for the support and retention of bedding, cooperatively configured on horizontal and parallel planes with adult sleeping space between and oriented one above the other spanwise but offset lengthwise, thus providing adult standup clearance at one extremity extending upward from the lower sleeping deck member which is adapted for mounting a vehicle; a series of vertical struts, each separately interconnecting the sleeping deck members by pivotal attachment between two comparable margins of the sleeping decks, constituting the support-actuating means for expanding and collapsing the device; and mechanical means of power for expanding and collapsing the device, comprised of a reversible thrust force attached to and extending between the two sleeping deck members.

Claim 4

In an expandable and collapsible device for two-level sleeping use and transport on a vehicle, described in its expanded configuration, comprising in combination, two similar quadrangular load-sustaining members, as the lower and upper sleeping decks, for the support and retention of bedding, cooperatively configured on horizontal and parallel planes with adult sleeping space between and oriented one above the other spanwise but offset lengthwise, thus providing adult standup clearance at one extremity extending upward from the lower sleeping deck member which is adapted for mounting a vehicle; a series of vertical struts, each separately interconnecting the sleeping deck members by pivotal attachment between two comparable margins of the sleeping decks, constituting the support-actuating means for expanding and collapsing the device; and mechanical means of power for expanding and collapsing the device, comprised of a reversible thrust force attached to and extending between the two sleeping deck members.

Claim 5

In a two-level assembly that is collapsible for transport and expandable for sleeping use on a vehicle, described in its expanded configuration, comprising in combination: two rectangular framelike members of approximately equal width, as the lower and upper sleeping decks for the support and retention of bedding, spaced in horizontal and parallel relation one above the other transversally with adult sleeping space between the decks and longitudinally offset, thus affording adult standup height at one end extending upward from the lower sleeping deck which is adapted for mounting on a vehicle; a structural support-actuating means, comprised of multiple equal-length struts terminally joined by pivotal attachment into straight line vertical pairs (strut pairs) spaced in bank along the longitudinal margins of the sleeping decks, with the lower extremity of each strut pair pivotally attached to the longitudinal margins of the lower sleeping deck and with the interconnecting common juncture of each strut pair pivotally attached to the longitudinal margins of the upper sleeping deck, and a motion-synchronizing means attached to each strut bank; a protective cover member, coextensive with an parallel spaced at adult standup height above the lower sleeping deck, as the top cover with its longitudinal margins rotatably attached to the upper extremity of each strut pair of the support-actuating means; and an actuating means of power for eXpanding and collapsing the assembly, comprised of a reversible thrust force mounted on the upper sleeping deck and attached to the actuating mechanism.

Claim 6

In a two-level assembly that is collapsible for transport and expandable for sleeping use on a vehicle, described in its expanded configuration, comprising in combination: two rectangular framelike members of approximately equal width, as the lower and upper sleeping decks for the support and retention of bedding, spaced in horizontal and parallel relation one above the other transversally with adult sleeping space between the decks and longitudinally offset, thus affording adult standup height at one end extending upward from the lower sleeping deck which is adapted for mounting on a vehicle; a structural support-actuating means, comprised of multiple equal-length struts terminally joined by pivotal attachment into straight line vertical pairs (strut pairs) spaced in bank along the longitudinal margins of the sleeping decks, with the lower extremity of each strut pair pivotally attached to the longitudinal margins of the lower sleeping deck and with the interconnecting common juncture of each strut pair pivotally attached to the longitudinal margins of the upper sleeping deck, and a motion-synchronizing means attached to each strut bank; a protective cover member, coextensive with an parallel spaced at adult standup height above the lower sleeping deck, as the top cover with its longitudinal margins rotatably attached to the upper extremity of each strut pair of the support-actuating means; and an actuating means of power for eXpanding and collapsing the assembly, comprised of a reversible thrust force mounted on the upper sleeping deck and attached to the actuating mechanism.

Claim 7

In a two-level structure that is collapsible for transport and expandable for sleeping use on a vehicle, described in its expanded configuration, comprising in combination: two load-bearing rectangular platforms of approximately equal width, as the lower and upper sleeping decks for the support and retention of bedding, arranged in horizontal and parallel relation and cooperatively spaced for sleeping purposes one above the other transversally but longitudinally offset to permit adult standup space at one end extending upward from the lower sleeping deck which is adapted for mounting on a vehicle; an interconnecting-actuating means, comprised of multiple struts arranged in separate banks along the longitudinal margins of the sleeping decks, with each bank consisting of two terminally contiguous tiers of equal-length vertical struts, one tier above the other, aligned and pivotally interconnected by strut and attachment into separate vertical pairs (strut pairs), thus providing a series of expanded toggle joint configurations with the lower extremity of each strut pair connected by pivotal attachment at spacings along the longitudinal margins of the lower sleeping deck and the interconnecting common juncture of each strut pair pivotally attached at spacings along the longitudinal margins of the upper sleeping deck; a motion-synchronizing means in each bank of struts, comprised of two push-pull rods arranged in a V-configuration rotated 90* with the contiguous rod ends adapted for pivotal attachment to a source of thrust power, and with the diverging rod ends rotatably attached respectively, one to an upper tier strut and one to a lower tier strut so that during all stages of expansion or collapse the V-point of the push-pull rods traverse a line adjacent to and parallel with the longitudinal margin of the upper sleeping deck; an enclosing means, having a horizontally disposed rigid top member and a laterally depending flexible media, as the top, ends and sides enclosing the assembly, with the rigid top pivotally attached along its longitudinal margins to the upper extremity of each strut pair and with the depending flexible media extending to the lower sleeping deck; and two reversible thrust hydraulic rams, each with piston rod, separately installed between the sleeping decks, with the heel or base end of the ram pivotally attached to a longitudinal margin of the lower sleeping deck and the piston rod pivotally attached to the comparable cooperative longitudinal margin of the upper sleeping deck, and a hydraulic pressure pump connected to the hydraulic rams with an intervening reversible flow shutoff valve.

Claim 8

In a two-level structure that is collapsible for transport and expandable for sleeping use on a vehicle, described in its expanded configuration, comprising in combination: two load-bearing rectangular platforms of approximately equal width, as the lower and upper sleeping decks for the support and retention of bedding, arranged in horizontal and parallel relation and cooperatively spaced for sleeping purposes one above the other transversally but longitudinally offset to permit adult standup space at one end extending upward from the lower sleeping deck which is adapted for mounting on a vehicle; an interconnecting-actuating means, comprised of multiple struts arranged in separate banks along the longitudinal margins of the sleeping decks, with each bank consisting of two terminally contiguous tiers of equal-length vertical struts, one tier above the other, aligned and pivotally interconnected by strut and attachment into separate vertical pairs (strut pairs), thus providing a series of expanded toggle joint configurations with the lower extremity of each strut pair connected by pivotal attachment at spacings along the longitudinal margins of the lower sleeping deck and the interconnecting common juncture of each strut pair pivotally attached at spacings along the longitudinal margins of the upper sleeping deck; a motion-synchronizing means in each bank of struts, comprised of two push-pull rods arranged in a V-configuration rotated 90* with the contiguous rod ends adapted for pivotal attachment to a source of thrust power, and with the diverging rod ends rotatably attached respectively, one to an upper tier strut and one to a lower tier strut so that during all stages of expansion or collapse the V-point of the push-pull rods traverse a line adjacent to and parallel with the longitudinal margin of the upper sleeping deck; an enclosing means, having a horizontally disposed rigid top member and a laterally depending flexible media, as the top, ends and sides enclosing the assembly, with the rigid top pivotally attached along its longitudinal margins to the upper extremity of each strut pair and with the depending flexible media extending to the lower sleeping deck; and two reversible thrust hydraulic rams, each with piston rod, separately installed between the sleeping decks, with the heel or base end of the ram pivotally attached to a longitudinal margin of the lower sleeping deck and the piston rod pivotally attached to the comparable cooperative longitudinal margin of the upper sleeping deck, and a hydraulic pressure pump connected to the hydraulic rams with an intervening reversible flow shutoff valve.

Claim 9

In a two-level expandable and collapsible sleeping facility for transport and use on an automobile, described in its expanded configuration, comprising in combination; a rectangular floorlike member, as the lower sleeping deck, horizontally disposed for the support and retention of bedding, said member being adapted for attachment to an automobile; a rectangular rigid frame with overlaid load-sustaining media, as the upper sleeping deck, positioned parallel to and transversally above the lower sleeping deck, with the decks longitudinally offset and sleeping space between; a rooflike member, with integral short skirt downward extending from its lateral margins, disposed parallel to and at adult standup height above the lower sleeping deck; two lateral banks of interconnecting-actuating linkage, with each bank comprised of two terminally contiguous tiers of vertical struts, one tier above the other, aligned and pivotally interconnected by strut end attachment into separate vertical pairs (strut pairs), thus forming along the longitudinal margins of the facility a series of expanded toggle joint configurations, with the lower extremity of each strut pair Pivotally attached at spacings along the longitudinal margins of the lower sleeping deck, with the interconnecting juncture of each strut pair pivotally attached at cooperative spacings along the longitudinal margins of the upper sleeping deck and with the upper extremity of each strut pair pivotally attached to the longitudinal margins of the rooflike member; motion-synchronizing push-pull rods in each lateral bank of struts, in the configuration of a V rotated 90* with the contiguous rod ends adapted for pivotal attachment of thrust power and with the diverging rod ends rotatably attached respectively one to an upper tier strut and one to a lower tier strut; a means of enclosing the facility by flexible side and end curtains, designed with incised window openings and an ingress and egress portal, with the upper and lower extremity of the curtains attached respectively to the skirt of the rooflike member and to the external margins of the lower sleeping deck; and two jackscrew assemblies, for expanding and collapsing the facility, mounted one each on the longitudinal margins of the upper sleeping deck, separately connected through a gearbox to a common source of torque force, with its drivescrew fitted with an internally threaded travel block that is pivotally attached to the common juncture of the push-pull rods.

Claim 10

In a two-level expandable and collapsible sleeping facility for transport and use on an automobile, described in its expanded configuration, comprising in combination; a rectangular floorlike member, as the lower sleeping deck, horizontally disposed for the support and retention of bedding, said member being adapted for attachment to an automobile; a rectangular rigid frame with overlaid load-sustaining media, as the upper sleeping deck, positioned parallel to and transversally above the lower sleeping deck, with the decks longitudinally offset and sleeping space between; a rooflike member, with integral short skirt downward extending from its lateral margins, disposed parallel to and at adult standup height above the lower sleeping deck; two lateral banks of interconnecting-actuating linkage, with each bank comprised of two terminally contiguous tiers of vertical struts, one tier above the other, aligned and pivotally interconnected by strut end attachment into separate vertical pairs (strut pairs), thus forming along the longitudinal margins of the facility a series of expanded toggle joint configurations, with the lower extremity of each strut pair Pivotally attached at spacings along the longitudinal margins of the lower sleeping deck, with the interconnecting juncture of each strut pair pivotally attached at cooperative spacings along the longitudinal margins of the upper sleeping deck and with the upper extremity of each strut pair pivotally attached to the longitudinal margins of the rooflike member; motion-synchronizing push-pull rods in each lateral bank of struts, in the configuration of a V rotated 90* with the contiguous rod ends adapted for pivotal attachment of thrust power and with the diverging rod ends rotatably attached respectively one to an upper tier strut and one to a lower tier strut; a means of enclosing the facility by flexible side and end curtains, designed with incised window openings and an ingress and egress portal, with the upper and lower extremity of the curtains attached respectively to the skirt of the rooflike member and to the external margins of the lower sleeping deck; and two jackscrew assemblies, for expanding and collapsing the facility, mounted one each on the longitudinal margins of the upper sleeping deck, separately connected through a gearbox to a common source of torque force, with its drivescrew fitted with an internally threaded travel block that is pivotally attached to the common juncture of the push-pull rods.

Claim 11

In a two-level sleeping compartment, expandable for sleeping use and collapsible for transport on an automobile, described in its expanded configuration, comprising in combination: a rectangular frame with integral rigid floor, as the lower sleeping deck, horizontally disposed for the support and retention of bedding, said frame being adapted for releasable attachment to an automobile; a plurality of vertical equal-length staffs, as the lower tier staffs of the support-actuating mechanism, with the lower end of each staff pivotally attached at selected spacings along the longitudinal margins of the lower sleeping deck; a second rectangular frame having transversal load-sustaining media, as the upper sleeping deck, with its longitudinal margins pivotally attached to the upper ends of the lower tier staffs and parallel oriented transversally above but longitudinally offset as compared to the lower sleeping deck so as to provide sleeping space between the decks and adult standup space at one end extending upward from the lower sleeping deck; an upper tier of support-actuating staffs, each of approximate equal length and vertically disposed with the lower ends of each staff pivotally attached at selected spacings along the longitudinal margins of the upper sleeping deck; a canopy, comprised of a rigid member with integral short depending skirt, as the top cover with its longitudinal margins pivotally attached to the upper ends of the upper tier of support-actuating staffs so that it is oriented parallel to and at adult standup height above the lower sleeping deck; a motion-synchronizing means in each lateral bank of the support-actuating mechanism, comprised of two push-pull rods arranged in a V-configuration rotated 90* with the contiguous rod ends adapted for pivotal attachment to a source of thrust force, and with the diverging rod ends rotatably attached respectively, one to an upper tier staff and one to a lower tier staff so that during all stages of expansion or collapse the V-point of the push-pull rods traverse a line adjacent and parallel to the longitudinal margin of the upper sleeping deck; means of actuating force for expanding and collapsing the compartment, comprised in each bank of actuating mechanism of a movable thrust rod, mounted on the longitudinal margins of the upper sleeping deck with the movable thrust rod pivotally attached to the contiguous rod ends of the V push-pull rods in the adjacent bank of staffs, and a source of power simultaneously supplied to the thrust mechanism; flexible enclosing curtain, attached to the lateral margins of the canopy, contOur tailored and laterally encompassing the compartment by downward extending to its releasable attachment to the lower sleeping deck; means of passageway, strategically cut through the enclosing curtain, to provide a closable ingress and egress portal and controllable apertures for the transmission of light and air; and a curtain folding and stowing means, for the automatic folding and stowing of the enclosing curtain, that is actuated by the expansion and collapse of the compartment.

Claim 12

In a two-level sleeping compartment, expandable for sleeping use and collapsible for transport on an automobile, described in its expanded configuration, comprising in combination: a rectangular frame with integral rigid floor, as the lower sleeping deck, horizontally disposed for the support and retention of bedding, said frame being adapted for releasable attachment to an automobile; a plurality of vertical equal-length staffs, as the lower tier staffs of the support-actuating mechanism, with the lower end of each staff pivotally attached at selected spacings along the longitudinal margins of the lower sleeping deck; a second rectangular frame having transversal load-sustaining media, as the upper sleeping deck, with its longitudinal margins pivotally attached to the upper ends of the lower tier staffs and parallel oriented transversally above but longitudinally offset as compared to the lower sleeping deck so as to provide sleeping space between the decks and adult standup space at one end extending upward from the lower sleeping deck; an upper tier of support-actuating staffs, each of approximate equal length and vertically disposed with the lower ends of each staff pivotally attached at selected spacings along the longitudinal margins of the upper sleeping deck; a canopy, comprised of a rigid member with integral short depending skirt, as the top cover with its longitudinal margins pivotally attached to the upper ends of the upper tier of support-actuating staffs so that it is oriented parallel to and at adult standup height above the lower sleeping deck; a motion-synchronizing means in each lateral bank of the support-actuating mechanism, comprised of two push-pull rods arranged in a V-configuration rotated 90* with the contiguous rod ends adapted for pivotal attachment to a source of thrust force, and with the diverging rod ends rotatably attached respectively, one to an upper tier staff and one to a lower tier staff so that during all stages of expansion or collapse the V-point of the push-pull rods traverse a line adjacent and parallel to the longitudinal margin of the upper sleeping deck; means of actuating force for expanding and collapsing the compartment, comprised in each bank of actuating mechanism of a movable thrust rod, mounted on the longitudinal margins of the upper sleeping deck with the movable thrust rod pivotally attached to the contiguous rod ends of the V push-pull rods in the adjacent bank of staffs, and a source of power simultaneously supplied to the thrust mechanism; flexible enclosing curtain, attached to the lateral margins of the canopy, contOur tailored and laterally encompassing the compartment by downward extending to its releasable attachment to the lower sleeping deck; means of passageway, strategically cut through the enclosing curtain, to provide a closable ingress and egress portal and controllable apertures for the transmission of light and air; and a curtain folding and stowing means, for the automatic folding and stowing of the enclosing curtain, that is actuated by the expansion and collapse of the compartment.

Claim 13

In a two-level, expandable and collapsible tentlike compartment, adapted for collapsed transport and sleeping use when expanded atop an automobile, described in its expanded configuration, a lower sleeping deck, comprised of a horizontally disposed rectangular base frame with attached overlaid rigid floor and integral upward extending low sidewalls, for the support and retention of bedding and in support of super structure, said deck being adapted for detachable mounting atop an automobile; a lower tier of support-actuating struts, comprises of multiple equal-length shafts, each vertically disposed with its lower end pivotally attached at a selected location along the longitudinal margin of the lower sleeping deck; an upper sleeping deck, comprised of a rectangular rigid frame spanned by a load-sustaining flexible media, with its longitudinal margins pivotally attached to the upper extremity of the lower tier struts, said sleeping deck being similar in size and configuration and parallel oriented transversally above but longitudinally offset as compared to the lower sleeping deck so as to provide adult sleeping space between the decks and standup height at one end extending upward from the floor of the lower sleeping deck; an upper tier of support-actuating struts, comprised of multiple equal-length rigid shafts, each vertically disposed with its lower end pivotally attached at a selected location along the longitudinal margins of the upper sleeping deck; a rigid top cover, comprised of a horizontal rectangular member, comparable in configuration and size to the base frame and having integral short depending marginal skirt, which top cover is super imposed parallel to and at adult standup height above the base floor and pivotally attached, at spaced positions along the longitudinal margins, to the upper extending ends of the upper tier struts, thus providing an overhead canopy when the compartment is expanded and which also serves as an enclosing cover for the entire mechanism when collapsed into its carrying case configuration; motion-synchronizing linkage, comprised of two push-pull rods in each lateral bank of struts arranged in the configuration of a V rotated 90* with the contiguous rod ends pivotally interconnected and adapted for attachment to a source of thrust power, and with the diverging rod ends rotatably attached respectively, one to an upper tier strut and the other to the companion lower tier strut so that during all stages of expansion and collapse of the compartment, the V-point of the push-pull rods will traverse a line adjacent and parallel to the longitudinal margin of the upper sleeping deck; a reversible electric motor mounted on the upper sleeping deck and dual connected, each to a lateral bank of support-actuating struts by a drive shaft, in train with a worm gear drive and threaded jackscrew fitted with an internally threaded travel block which is pivotally attached to the common juncture of the V push-pull rods, as the power means for expanding and collapsing the compartment; and transversal stabilizers, comprised of separate units of flexible nonstretchable stays, diagonally affixed by attachment between a stable transversal member of the compartment and a movable strut; a flexible waterproof curtain, attached to the top-cover marginal skirt, contour tailored and laterally encompassing the compartment by downward extending to its releasable attachment to the four margins of the base frame; an ingress and egress portal cut through the lateral encompassing curtain adjacent to the standup space within the compartment, in a configuration that leaves an unsevered portion of the curtain as a closure flap; multiple window openings cut through the encompassing curtain to provide flow of light and air, each fitted externally with insect barrier netting, and in a configuration having an unsevered portion of the curtain as an adjustable closure flap; an automatic curtain folding and stowing device, actuated by the rise and fall of the top cover, comprised of a series of nonstretchable guide lines, each fitted with a loop-stopping lug near the point where the line is permanently anchored to the base frame, from whence the line extends upward inside the curtain through attached curtain loops and thence through a block and tackle arrangement, first through a fixed pulley block and thence through a floating pulley block, each block having two pulleys, with the guideline kept taut by a springlike anchor line attached between the floating pulley block and the anchor line securement to the underside of the top cover; and an access ladder with steps hingedly attached to the side rails and with the upper end of one side rail pivotally attached to the base frame so that the ladder can be swung to a horizontal position for mounting along the longitudinal skirt of the top cover when the compartment is collapsed for transport.

Claim 14

In a two-level, expandable and collapsible tentlike compartment, adapted for collapsed transport and sleeping use when expanded atop an automobile, described in its expanded configuration, a lower sleeping deck, comprised of a horizontally disposed rectangular base frame with attached overlaid rigid floor and integral upward extending low sidewalls, for the support and retention of bedding and in support of super structure, said deck being adapted for detachable mounting atop an automobile; a lower tier of support-actuating struts, comprises of multiple equal-length shafts, each vertically disposed with its lower end pivotally attached at a selected location along the longitudinal margin of the lower sleeping deck; an upper sleeping deck, comprised of a rectangular rigid frame spanned by a load-sustaining flexible media, with its longitudinal margins pivotally attached to the upper extremity of the lower tier struts, said sleeping deck being similar in size and configuration and parallel oriented transversally above but longitudinally offset as compared to the lower sleeping deck so as to provide adult sleeping space between the decks and standup height at one end extending upward from the floor of the lower sleeping deck; an upper tier of support-actuating struts, comprised of multiple equal-length rigid shafts, each vertically disposed with its lower end pivotally attached at a selected location along the longitudinal margins of the upper sleeping deck; a rigid top cover, comprised of a horizontal rectangular member, comparable in configuration and size to the base frame and having integral short depending marginal skirt, which top cover is super imposed parallel to and at adult standup height above the base floor and pivotally attached, at spaced positions along the longitudinal margins, to the upper extending ends of the upper tier struts, thus providing an overhead canopy when the compartment is expanded and which also serves as an enclosing cover for the entire mechanism when collapsed into its carrying case configuration; motion-synchronizing linkage, comprised of two push-pull rods in each lateral bank of struts arranged in the configuration of a V rotated 90* with the contiguous rod ends pivotally interconnected and adapted for attachment to a source of thrust power, and with the diverging rod ends rotatably attached respectively, one to an upper tier strut and the other to the companion lower tier strut so that during all stages of expansion and collapse of the compartment, the V-point of the push-pull rods will traverse a line adjacent and parallel to the longitudinal margin of the upper sleeping deck; a reversible electric motor mounted on the upper sleeping deck and dual connected, each to a lateral bank of support-actuating struts by a drive shaft, in train with a worm gear drive and threaded jackscrew fitted with an internally threaded travel block which is pivotally attached to the common juncture of the V push-pull rods, as the power means for expanding and collapsing the compartment; and transversal stabilizers, comprised of separate units of flexible nonstretchable stays, diagonally affixed by attachment between a stable transversal member of the compartment and a movable strut; a flexible waterproof curtain, attached to the top-cover marginal skirt, contour tailored and laterally encompassing the compartment by downward extending to its releasable attachment to the four margins of the base frame; an ingress and egress portal cut through the lateral encompassing curtain adjacent to the standup space within the compartment, in a configuration that leaves an unsevered portion of the curtain as a closure flap; multiple window openings cut through the encompassing curtain to provide flow of light and air, each fitted externally with insect barrier netting, and in a configuration having an unsevered portion of the curtain as an adjustable closure flap; an automatic curtain folding and stowing device, actuated by the rise and fall of the top cover, comprised of a series of nonstretchable guide lines, each fitted with a loop-stopping lug near the point where the line is permanently anchored to the base frame, from whence the line extends upward inside the curtain through attached curtain loops and thence through a block and tackle arrangement, first through a fixed pulley block and thence through a floating pulley block, each block having two pulleys, with the guideline kept taut by a springlike anchor line attached between the floating pulley block and the anchor line securement to the underside of the top cover; and an access ladder with steps hingedly attached to the side rails and with the upper end of one side rail pivotally attached to the base frame so that the ladder can be swung to a horizontal position for mounting along the longitudinal skirt of the top cover when the compartment is collapsed for transport.

Claim 15

In a horizontal elevating and lowering mechanism, as a subassembly, for use with a vertical expanding and collapsing sleeping assembly which has a horizontal base, a movable top cover and a movable upper sleeping deck intervening parallel between the base and the top cover, which subassembly is now declared and separately claimed as a patentable subcombination, herein described in its expanded configuration, comprising in combination: multiple movable struts of approximately equal length, vertically arranged in two tiers, one tier superimposed above the other and spaced in comparable numbers, as opposite lateral banks of struts, along the longitudinal margins of the sleeping assembly, with a strut of the lower tier aligned with a strut of the upper tier by pivotal interconnection at their adjacent terminals, forming a series of strut pairs, each in an expanded toggle joint configuration with the lower and upper extremity of each strut pair fashioned for pivotal attachment respectively to comparable lateral margins of the base and the movable top cover, and having the common juncture of each strut pair designed for pivotal attachment to the cooperating lateral margin of the movable upper sleeping deck; and a motion-synchronizing means in each strut bank, comprised of two push-pull rods arranged in the configuration of a V rotated 90* with the contiguous rod ends pivotally interconnected and with the diverging rod ends rotatably attached respectively, one to an upper tier strut and the other to a lower tier strut so that during all stages of expansion and collapse of the sleeping assembly the V-point of the push-pull rods will traverse a line adjacent and parallel to the longitudinal margin of the upper sleeping deck; all of which, when so assembled, united and actuated in conjunction with an expandable and collapsible sleeping assembly, raises and lowers the movable sleeping deck and movable top cover, while each movable member remains horizontal and parallel to the base at all stages of elevation, with the movable sleeping deck traveling longitudinally to an offset position above the base, thereby providing adult standup height at one end within the expanded sleeping assembly.

Claim 16

In a curtain folding and stowing assembly for use with an expandable and collapsible sleeping compartment which has a horizontal base, a movable top cover, interconnecting expanding and collapsing mechanism and lateral enclosing flexible curtain, which curtain folding and stowing assembly is now declared and separately claimed As a subcombination, consisting of a series of identical units, one of which is herein described in its expanded configuration, comprising in combination: a two-sheave fixed pulley block attached to the underside and near the lateral margin of the top cover; a two-sheave floating pulley block, statically described as being located near the underside and approximately midway transversalwise of the top cover and which floating pulley block moves transversal and parallel to the top cover; a nonstretchable guideline with its adjustable loop-stopping lug, anchored at its lower end to the sleeping compartment base, thence extending upward through a series of slidable loops affixed in vertical alignment to the inside of the flexible enclosing curtain, with said guideline further extending, in block and tackle threading fashion, first through the fixed pulley block and thence through the floating pulley block, with the extended end of the guideline affixed to the fixed pulley block; and a stretched segment of springlike tether attached to the floating pulley block and thence extending transversal the top cover to its point of anchorage to the underside and lateral margin of the top cover opposite from the fixed pulley block; each of which units, when so singly arranged and multiply assembled, keeps the guidelines taut at all stages of expansion and collapse of the compartment and the lowering of the top cover, from which the enclosing curtains are suspended, causes the loop-stopping lug to accumulate the curtain loops, thus stowing the flexible enclosing curtain in vertical folds within the sleeping compartment.