Murphey Bed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RbxkrmuQ5E

When the bed is up, there are three layers; closest to the wall is a storage area, then the mattress, then the shelves.

The storage area is shelves and an electronics panel. The panel will have lights, power and usb and speakers. There will be a space to store pillows when the bed is up. And above that shelves for other storage. I also want a trash can under the electronics panel. It would also be nice if there was a fold down desk in here.

The mattress needs to go up and down easily, but it may not be bad to begin with, and if it is, I should be able to add some springs or counter weights. Lauren requests that there be a latch.

The shelves will be desk style. So the shelves always stay parallel to the ground. When the bed is up, they're just shelves, when the bed is down, they are safely stowed below the bed.

I need to decide if the bed will go all the way back, or if I'll reserve some space for storage (or in between). Going all the way back leaves more room when the bed is down, but cuts a whole arc out of storage.

Requirements

This project will need

• Tablesaw
• planer

I should also make some other (basic) painted furniture first.

Linkage

The shelf/leg linkage is actually pretty easy. Image each shelf as a triangle (back, bottom and hypotenuse). The mattress clearly has a hinge. The linkage is connected to another hinge 45° forward and down. The linkage connects somewhere along the hypotenuse (where doesn't matter, but it has to be the same on all shelves.

Numbers

The top of the mattress should be about 20" off the ground (sitting height). From the top of the mattress to the overhead shelves should be 36". The mattress is about 80"x60" but leave at least 2" all around.

Nice-to-have

Canopy

Have a matching action that swings out two poles that support a canopy. Make it out of a light fabric that is highly innsulative. That should help trap the heat while we are sleeping.

Electrical

Outlets, USB out. Possibly lights, possibly speakers.

I would like a motor to raise and lower the bed, probably needs a screw drive. I'll need limit switches. I'd also like to make strain sensor out of a spring and a limit switch so that if someone is on the bed, the motor won't even try to lift it; set it to the weight of the bed + 50lbs on the shelf.

Tray

Very cool would be small desk/trays that would fold down. Enough to hold a laptop.

Cushioned Backs

When the bed is down, the headboard would be slightly angled and cushioned like the back of a couch for comfy sitting.

Auto-Stabilizers

The non-auto version is two straps to hold the sheets in place. But I'm thinking about two pieces that flip to hold the sheets in place. They would be connected to the pulley system, so no additional motors are required. When the bed is down, they would lie around the bed, above the head and below the foot - they would form the perimeter.

Metal

Looks like I can get square tubing here, enough for under the bed, for about $60 including shipping. I think 1/2" steel square tubing is strong enough (should be less than 0.1" deflection). 3 beams going the long way at 5 beams the short way.

This will help. I figure the bed plus us will be around 450. There will be a leg ever 20".