Offset flexible hinge for a foldable bed, a foldable bed having an offset flexible hinge, and a furniture apparatus including a foldable bed having an offset flexible hinge

Abstract

An offset hinge for a foldable bed, including a flexible connector connected between a first section and a second section of the foldable bed with the flexible connector being connected to the second section at a connection point on a surface of the second section that is offset a distance from an edge of the second section.

1 . An offset hinge for a foldable bed, comprising:
 a flexible connector connected between a first section and a second section of the foldable bed with the flexible connector being connected to the second section at a connection point on a surface of the second section that is offset a distance from an edge of the second section, wherein
 a width of the flexible connector is approximately equal to one or more of i) half a thickness of the first section or ii) the distance of the offset from the edge of the second section. 
   
     
     
         2 . The offset hinge of  claim 1 , wherein the foldable bed is configured to transition between a first position and a second position. 
     
     
         3 . The offset hinge of  claim 2 , wherein,
 the first section forms a backrest and the second section forms a seating surface, when the foldable bed is in the first position, and   the first and second sections form a sleeping surface, when the foldable bed is in the second position.   
     
     
         4 . The offset hinge of  claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of the second section extends underneath the first section when the foldable bed is in the first position such that a depth of the seating surface is less than a width thickness of the second section. 
     
     
         5 . The offset hinge of  claim 3 , wherein
 the flexible connector extends from the connection point towards a front of the second section when the foldable bed is in the first position, and   the flexible connector extends from the connection point away from the front of the second section when the foldable bed is in the second position.   
     
     
         6 . The offset hinge of  claim 5 , wherein, when the foldable bed is in the second position, the flexible connector is parallel with a top surface of the first section and a top surface of the second section such that the offset of the connection point pulls the first section towards the second section to form the sleeping surface. 
     
     
         7 . The offset hinge of  claim 2 , wherein the width of the flexible connector is approximately equal to the distance of the offset from the edge of the second section. 
     
     
         8 . The offset hinge of  claim 2 , wherein the width of the flexible connector and the distance of the offset from the edge of the second section are each approximately half the thickness of the first section such that the first section rests entirely on the second section when the foldable bed is in the first position. 
     
     
         9 . The offset hinge of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible connector is made of fabric. 
     
     
         10 . The offset hinge of  claim 9 , wherein the flexible connector is a dual-layer of the fabric each connected between the first section and the second section of the foldable bed. 
     
     
         11 . A foldable bed, comprising:
 a first section;   a second section; and   an offset hinge including a flexible connector connected between the first section and the second section with the flexible connector being connected to the second section at a connection point on a surface of the second section that is offset a distance from an edge of the second section, wherein   a width of the flexible connector is approximately equal to one or more of i) half a thickness of the first section or ii) the distance of the offset from the edge of the second section.   
     
     
         12 . The foldable bed of  claim 11 , wherein the foldable bed is configured to transition between a first position and a second position. 
     
     
         13 . The foldable bed of  claim 12 , wherein,
 the first section forms a backrest and the second section forms a seating surface, when the foldable bed is in the first position, and   the first and second sections form a sleeping surface, when the foldable bed is in the second position.   
     
     
         14 . The foldable bed of  claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of the second section extends underneath the first section when the foldable bed is in the first position such that a depth of the seating surface is less than a width thickness of the second section. 
     
     
         15 . The foldable bed of  claim 13 , wherein
 the flexible connector extends from the connection point towards a front of the second section when the foldable bed is in the first position, and   the flexible connector extends from the connection point away from the front of the second section when the foldable bed is in the second position.   
     
     
         16 . The foldable bed of  claim 15 , wherein, when the foldable bed is in the second position, the flexible connector is parallel with a top surface of the first section and a top surface of the second section such that the offset of the connection point pulls the first section towards the second section to form the sleeping surface. 
     
     
         17 . The foldable bed of  claim 12 , wherein a length of the flexible connector is equal to the distance of the offset. 
     
     
         18 . The foldable bed of  claim 17 , wherein the length of the flexible connector and the distance of the offset are each approximately half a depth of the first section such that the first section rests entirely on the second section when the foldable bed is in the first position. 
     
     
         19 . The foldable bed of  claim 11 , wherein the flexible connector is made of fabric. 
     
     
         20 . The foldable bed of  claim 19 , wherein the flexible connector is a dual-layer of the fabric each connected between the first section and the second section of the foldable bed. 
     
     
         21 . The offset hinge of  claim 2 , wherein the width of the flexible connector is approximately equal to one or more of i) half the thickness of the first section or ii) the distance of the offset from the edge of the second section such that the flexible connector is configured to limit the first section to rotating up to approximately 90 degrees when transitioning from the first position to the second position with a same surface of the first section forming a backrest in the first position and a portion of a sleeping surface in the second position. 
     
     
         22 . The offset hinge of  claim 2 , wherein the width of the flexible connector is approximately equal to half the thickness of the first section. 
     
     
         23 . The offset hinge of  claim 2 , wherein the width of the flexible connector is approximately equal to one or more of i) half the thickness of the first section or ii) the distance of the offset from the edge of the second section such that the flexible connector is configured to restrict further forward movement of the first section with respect to the second section when the foldable bed is in the first position and limit the first section to rotating up to approximately 90 degrees when transitioning from the first position to the second position.