The invention relates to a bunk arrangement or sleeping compartment especially for a driver and/or an assistant driver of a vehicle, especially a truck or a bus. The invention further relates to a vehicle cabin comprising such a bunk arrangement or sleeping compartment.

The cabin especially of a truck or a bus is usually equipped with at least one bunk in which the driver or an assistant driver can rest or sleep during a journey so that stops on a journey can be kept at a minimum and the driver and the assistant driver need not to leave the vehicle in order to sleep over night.

However, in most cases such a bunk is very narrow and the available space within a usual cabin of a vehicle is limited so that the comfort is impaired and the driver and the assistant driver cannot take much luggage or supplies with them.

An object underlying the invention is to provide a bunk arrangement or sleeping compartment especially for a vehicle cabin with an improved versatility so that it can be used more effectively.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a vehicle cabin comprising at least one bunk arrangement or sleeping compartment in which the available space can be used more effectively.

At least one of these objects is solved according to claim 1 by a bunk arrangement or sleeping compartment which comprises at least one sleeper berth or bunk which is divided along its length into a first and a second part which are connected to each other by means of a pivot or swivelling link in such a way that the second part can be folded between an at least substantially upright position in relation to the first part, and a flat position in which it is situated at least substantially in a plane which is common with the first part.

Furthermore, at least one of the objects is solved according to claim 9 by a vehicle cabin comprising at least one such bunk arrangement or sleeping compartment.

An advantage of these solutions is the fact, that the bunk arrangement according to the invention can be adapted to the actual need in a very simple manner. It can be used for sleeping or resting or for storing or depositing of luggage or other articles.

The subclaims disclose advantageous embodiments of the invention.

The embodiments according to claims 2 and 3 have the advantage that a safe luggage compartment is provided in the sense that articles which are deposited on the sleeper berth or bunk cannot fall down from the same and hurt the driver or the assistant driver in case of braking the vehicle.

The embodiment according to claim 4 has the advantage that such articles can be easily deposited and removed from the luggage compartment.

Claims 5 to 7 are directed on preferred embodiments which are advantageous especially for using the bunk arrangement for resting or sleeping in a comfortable manner.

The embodiment according to claim 8 is especially advantageous if the bunk arrangement is mounted with its second part close to or at a wall of e.g. a cabin. In this case the second part can nevertheless be folded down in the direction of this wall because the first part can correspondingly slide in the opposite direction.

Further details, features and advantages of the invention are disclosed in the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention in connection with the drawings in which shows:

Fig. 1 a schematic three-dimensional view into the cabin of a truck or bus comprising a sleeper berth according to a first embodiment of the invention in

an unfolded position;

Fig. 2 a schematic three-dimensional view of the sleeper berth according to Figure 1 in an intermediate folding position of a mattress;

Fig. 3 a schematic three-dimensional view of the sleeper berth according to Figure 1 with the mattress in a folded position;

Fig. 4 a suspension of the sleeper berth in a side view;

Fig. 5 the sleeper berth according to Figures 1 to 3 in a folded position in a three- dimensional view from below;

Fig. 6 the sleeper berth as indicated in Figure 5 in a first variation;

Fig. 7 the sleeper berth as indicated in Figure 5 in a second variation;

Fig. 8 a schematic three-dimensional view into the cabin of a truck or bus comprising a sleeper berth according to a second embodiment of the invention in a folded position;

Fig. 9 the sleeper berth according to Figure 8 in more details;

Fig. 10 a schematic three-dimensional view into the cabin of a truck or bus comprising the sleeper berth according to the second embodiment of the invention in an unfolded position;

Fig. 11 the sleeper berth according to Figure 10 in more details; and

Fig. 12 an advantageous embodiment of a sleeper berth in combination with an adapted vehicle cabin.

Figure 1 shows a schematic three-dimensional view into the cabin of a truck or bus. Such a cabin is usually delimited or defined by a floor 1 on which seats 2, 3 for the driver and the assistant driver, respectively, are mounted, two side walls 4, 5, one back wall 6, a windscreen 7 and a ceiling 8.

Usually in the rear part of the cabin, i.e. behind the seats 2, 3, and/or below the ceiling 8, a bunk arrangement or sleeping compartment comprising at least one sleeper berth or bunk is provided for the driver and/or the assistant driver, respectively, for resting or sleeping during a journey.

According to Figure 1 , the cabin is provided below the ceiling 8 with a first sleeper

berth or bunk 10 according to a first embodiment of the invention.

Behind the seats 2, 3 and below the first bunk, a second sleeper berth or bunk can be positioned according to a second embodiment of the invention which is explained with reference to Figures 8 to 12 below. The second sleeper berth or bunk 20 can be provided additionally or alternatively to the first sleeper berth or bunk 10.

The first sleeper berth 10 is shown in more details in Figures 2 to 7. This sleeper berth 10 can be folded along its length from an unfolded position as shown in Figures 1 and 4 into a folded position as shown in Figures 5 to 7 and vice versa. In its unfolded position the sleeper berth 10 is especially suited for being used in the form of a couch or a bed for the driver or the assistant driver, and in the folded position the sleeper berth 10 can be used e. g. as a compartment for storing luggage or other articles.

According to Figures 2 and 3 the sleeper berth or bunk 10 comprises a support 11 with a surrounding border or frame in the form of wall sections 12 which extend at least substantially perpendicular to the support 11.

On the support 11 and between the wall sections 12 a mattress 13 is positioned which is divided along its length into a first and a second part 131, 132 which are preferably two halves of the mattress 13. The two parts 131, 132 are connected to each other by means of a first pivot or swivelling link 133. As indicated in Figures 2 and 3 for the second part 132, the mattress 13 is provided at its back with a plate 134 for reinforcing the mattress 13 as usually known.

This first link 133 is provided such that the two parts 131, 132 of the mattress 13 can be folded, starting from the unfolded position according to Figures 1 and 4, via an intermediate folding position according to Figure 2, into a folded position according to Figure 3.

As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the support 11 is correspondingly divided along its

length into a first and a second part 111, 112 which are connected to each other by means of a second pivot or swivelling link 113. According to Figure 4 the first part

111 of the support 11 is fixedly mounted at the back wall 6 of the cabin of the related vehicle wherein for the second part 112 a suspension 120 is provided by which it hangs on the ceiling 8 of the cabin.

The second link 113 is provided and positioned such that after having folded the mattress 13 together according to .Figure 3, the second part 112 of the support 11 can be folded up into an at least substantial vertical position so that both parts 111,

112 of the support 11 enclose an angle of about 90 degree as shown in Figures 5 to 7 from below. If the first sleeper berth or bunk 10 is mounted such within a vehicle cabin that the second part 112 is positioned in the direction of the forward motion of the vehicle, the second part 112 is preferably provided as a tray (fender) or guard wall which prevents that objects or articles which are stored on the sleeper berth or bunk 10 fall down from the same and may hurt the driver or the assistant driver. By this, the bunk arrangement or sleeping compartment is safe especially in case of braking the vehicle.

Figures 2, 3 and 5 as well show that the second part 112 of the support 11 is provided with a net or a grid 114 which allows a view through this second part 112. This is especially advantageous for finding luggage or other articles when the second part 112 is in its vertical position and the sleeper berth or bunk is used as a luggage compartment.

Figure 6 shows a first variation of the support 11 of the sleeper berth or bunk in which in the second part 112 of the support 11 a first and a second shutter or flap 115a, 115b are provided instead of the grid 114 as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 5. The shutters or flaps 115a, 115b can be openend and closed so that when the sleeper berth is used as a luggage compartment, luggage or other articles can be loaded and reloaded through the shutters or flaps 115a, 115b.

Figur 7 shows a second variation of the support 11 of the sleeper berth in which the

second part 112 of the support 11 is provided with a shutter or flap 116a which corresponds to the shutters or flaps 115a, 115b as shown in Figure 6. Furthermore, instead of a second shutter or flap 115b, a jalousie 116b is provided which allows a view into the compartment.

Figure 8 shows a schematic three-dimensional view into the cabin of a truck or bus comprising a second sleeper berth or bunk 20 according to a second embodiment of the invention.

This cabin is again delimited by a floor 1 on which seats 2, 3 for the driver and the assistant driver, respectively, are mounted, two side walls 4, 5, one back wall 6, a windscreen 7 and a ceiling 8. Between the back wall 6 and the seats 2, 3, the sleeper berth or bunk 20 according to the second embodiment of the invention is positioned.

This sleeper berth 20 can be folded along its length from a folded position as shown in Figures 8 and 9 into an unfolded position as shown in Figures 10 to 12 and vice versa. In its folded position the sleeper berth 20 can be used in a usual manner as a seat or bank for storing articles wherein in its unfolded position the sleeper berths especially suited for the driver and/or the assistant driver for resting or sleeping.

According to Figures 9 and 11 the sleeper berth 20 is divided along its length into two parts 201 , 202 which are connected to each other by means of a pivot or swivelling link 203. The first part 201 which is mounted on a support 204 within the cabin is provided in the folded position of the sleeper berth 20 as a seat part. The second part 202 which stands upright in the folded position and encloses in this position substantially an angle of about 90 degrees to the first part 201 is provided as a back part of the sleeper berth 20.

Additionally, Figure 9 shows the sleeper berth or bunk 10 according to the first embodiment of the invention below the ceiling 8 and above the second sleeper berth or bunk 20 in a folded position.

Figures 10 and 11 show the second sleeper berth 20 in the unfolded position in which the second part 202 is tilted backwardly down into a substantially horizontal position. When tilting down the second part 202, the first part 201 of the sleeper berth 20 is simultaneously shifted into the opposite direction (i.e. forwardly) according to the width of the second part 202. In order to achieve this, the first part 201 is slidingly mounted on the support 204 preferably by means of guide rails or a track (not shown).

In dependence on the width of the first and the second part 201, 202 of the sleeper berth 20 and the available space between the seats 2, 3 and the back wall 6 of the cabin, it may be necessary to shift the seats 2, 3 forwardly before tilting back the second part 202 and shifting forward the first part 201 of the sleeper berth 20.

Figure 12 shows an advantageous embodiment of a sleeper berth or bunk 20 within a vehicle cabin in which a section 61 of the back wall 6 of the cabin can be swivelled outwardly (i.e. backwardly in this case) so that more space is available for the sleeper berth or bunk 20 in its unfolded position. By this, either the first part 201 needs not to be shifted forwardly when unfolding the sleeper berth 20 and/or the second part 202 can be made wider so that more comfort is achieved for resting and sleeping.

Finally, Figures 11 and 12 as well show the sleeper berth or bunk 10 according to the first embodiment of the invention below the ceiling 8 and above the second sleeper berth or bunk 20 in an unfolded position.