1. The Great Team1 Week 6 : Midterm Presentation Bunk Bed Converter Adam Brown Blaine Gardner Sarah Gleaton Jimmy Jiang Addisu Lemlem Lee Tschaepe 6/21/2006

2. The Great Team2 The Problem Bunk beds are a great way to sleep multiple people in a limited space. But what if a bigger bed is needed for a guest or the kids outgrow the bunk beds? Our Bunk Bed Converter will be designed so that quick and easy conversion from traditional bunk beds to a single king-size bed is possible by only one person.

3. The Great Team3 The Problem

4. The Great Team4 Design Goals Must be operable by one person Must be safe in all forms – in bunk bed or king bed position and while being converted between the two Must be cost effective

5. The Great Team5 Design Partition Raising/Lowering System Design the overall system so that one or two users can easily and safely convert twin bunk beds into one king size bed. Lift Assist/Collapse Support Design a spring or another mechanical device that keeps the top bunk from collapsing to the ground during the lowering process while also helping to pull the upper bed when returning it back into the top bunk position. Locking Bed in Bunk Bed Position Design a locking system so that it will not collapse accidentally and also prevents a young child from unlocking the bed.

6. The Great Team6 Conceptual Designs Hinge Design Diagonally Sliding Design Fold-over Design Slotted Design Slider Design

7. The Great Team7 Hinge Design This design allows the top mattress to be moved down to an even level with the bottom mattress using two hydraulic or spring arms. The arms are mounted on a brace below the bottom mattress, with the rear arm slightly offset below the front arm. They are attached to the top mattress frame Additionally, it has a leg that can be pulled out for support in the king position.

8. The Great Team8 Diagonally Sliding Design Description The frame and lower bed are stationary The upper bed is attached to the frame at one end and a diagonal track at the other The upper bed can be detached from the frame and held as it slides down next to the lower bed

9. The Great Team9 Fold Over

10. The Great Team10 Slotted Design

11. The Great Team11 Bottom bunk slides out through a track sub- assembly Foldable corner legs provide support for bottom bunk bed in extended position Counterweight or Spring helps lower the top bunk slowly Counterweight or Spring can also provides force to lift the top mattress back up to the bunk position Slider Design

12. The Great Team12 Patent Search

13. The Great Team13 Patent Search

14. The Great Team14 Selection Criteria Stability Safety Ease of Use Cost Ease of Assembly Reliability Aesthetics Durability

15. The Great Team15 Pair-wise Comparison

16. The Great Team16 Evaluation Matrix

17. The Great Team17 The Prototype

18. The Great Team18 Questions?