EP0323809B1

EP0323809B1 - Folding framework for sofa-beds and the like

Info

Publication number: EP0323809B1
Application number: EP19880830219
Authority: EP
Inventors: Stelio De Lorenzo
Original assignee: Lampolet SpA
Current assignee: Lampolet SpA
Priority date: 1988-01-08
Filing date: 1988-05-18
Publication date: 1992-12-09
Anticipated expiration: 2008-05-18
Also published as: DE3876610D1; IT213569Z2; EP0323809A1; IT8820411V0

Description

The present invention relates to a folding framework for sofa-beds and the like, of the type comprising a fixed carrying structure, a first frame having one end connected to the carrying structure, a second frame having one end rotatably hinged to the second end of the first frame and a third frame having one end rotatably hinged to the second end of the second frame, said framework lending itself to be brought from an extended condition in which said first, second and third frames are consecutively aligned, to a collapsed or folded up condition in which said frames are mutually superposed.
It is known that many types of frameworks for sofa-beds have been till now marketed. One of these types is substantially comprised of a fixed carrying structure to which three frames are associated which frames are connected to one another by torsion bars forming linkage parallelograms. Frames can be brought from a condition in which they are superposed on one another so that the framework may perform its fonction as a sofa, to a condition in which they are disposed in coplanar relation so that the framework may perform its function as a bedstead. To the framework taken as a whole is then added an element designed to form the sofa padding when the frames are mutually superposed and which can be spread out to form a mattress when the frames are in mutual alignment.
Sofa-beds provided with the above described frameworks have some drawbacks as regards their comfortableness in use, above all when they have to be utilised as beds. In particular, said drawbacks are originated from the fact that the lying plane formed by the frames inevitably exhibits two or more stiff crosspieces formed with a portion of the perimeter extension of the single frames.
Other types of frameworks are formed with three frames which can be brought from a spread out condition in which they are horizontally aligned, to a folded up condition in which two of them are book-folded so as to form the sofa back, the other frame forming the sofa seat. The drawback of these frameworks is that they give rise to back of great bulkiness when they are used to form a sofa, due to the thickness of the book-folded frames to which the thickness of the stuffed element disposed on either side of the frames themselves has to be added.
It is an object of the present invention to solve the drawbacks of the known art by providing a framework for sofa-beds offering a satisfactory comfortableness in use when it is employed as either a sofa or a bed and that at the same time does not exhibit a too bulky back when employed as a sofa.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a framework which is practical in use as regards the operations to be carried out to reach either the mutual alignment or folding of the frames.
The foregoing and further objects which will become more apparent in the course of the present description are substantially attained by a folding framework for sofa-beds and the like, characterized in that it comprises, for each of its opposed sides: an attachment bracket fastened to one end of the second frame; a first link member pivoted to one end of said attachment bracket and, on the opposite side, to the carrying structure; a second link member pivoted to the attachment bracket at a location between the second frame and the pivoting point of the first link member and, on the opposite side, to the carrying structure at a location which is raised with respect to the pivoting point of the first link member on the carrying structure; a supporting foot hinged to the second end of the second frame; a first tie rod pivoted to the first end of the third frame and, on the opposite side, to said foot; and a second tie rod pivoted to the foot at a location between the second frame and the pivoting point of the first tie rod and, on the opposite side, to the carrying structure.
Particular embodiments of the invention are defined in dependent claims 2 to 5
Further features and advantages will best be understood from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of a folding framework for sofa-beds and the like in accordance with the present invention, given hereinafter by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 diagrammatically shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the framework according to the invention and arranged so as to be used as a sofa;
Fig. 2 shows a detail of Fig. 1 on an enlarged view;
Fig. 3 shows the framework of Fig. 1 at an intermediate step of the frame aligning operation;
Fig. 4 shows the framework with the frames in alignment along a commun plane to form a bedstead;
Fig. 5 is a broken top view showing a side portion of the framework as seen in Fig. 4, said framework having a second side portion substantially identical and correspondingly opposite the portion shown.

Referring to the figures, a folding framework for sofa-beds and the like in accordance with the present invention has been globally identified by reference numeral 1. The framework 1 comprises a fixed carrying structure 2 and a base portion 3 extending to form a rectangle and provided with bearing elements 3a. Fastened to the back of the base portion 3 is a supporting portion 4 extending in a substantially vertical direction and designed to be part of a back 5 when, as shown in Fig. 1, the framework 1 is disposed in its folded condition to be used as a sofa.
The framework 1 further comprises a first frame 6 consisting of two longitudinal members 7 (only one of which is shown in the accompanying drawings), connected to a crosspiece 8 at one end 6a of the frame itself. Conventional elastic splines or staves 9, known per se, extend between the longitudinal members 7. The first frame is connected to the base portion 3 by means of a strut lever 10. Preferably, the strut lever 10 consists of two telescopically engaged portions 10a and 10b which are pivoted to the first frame 6 and the carrying structure 2 respectively.
Rotatably pivoted to the second end 6b of the first frame 6, at one end 11a thereof, is a second frame 11 comprised of two longitudinal members 12 extending along the opposed sides of the framework 1 and between which two elastic staves 13 similar to the above mentioned ones 9, are engaged.
Originally and advantageously, in accordance with the present invention, an attachment bracket 14 is fastened to either longitudinal member 12, in the region of end 11a, which bracket allows the second frame 11 to be connected to the carrying structure 2. In greater detail, the attachment bracket 14 is connected to the carrying structure 2 by means of a first link member 15 pivoted to the bracket at one end thereof and to the front of the base portion 3 at the opposite end thereof. A second link member 16 is provided as well, which, as seen in Fig. 2, rotatably hinged to the attachment bracket 14 at a location between the second frame 11 and the pivoting point of the first link member 15. On the opposite side to that facing the bracket 14 the second link member 16 is rotatably connected to the base portion 3 at a raised location as compared with the pivoting point of the first link member 15 on the base portion itself. In the embodiment shown the second link member 16 is hinged to the upper end of a support 17 standing at the front from the base portion 3.
Furthermore a lifting lever 18 is rigidly engaged to each of said longitudinal members 12, close to the first end 11a of the second frame 11, to the free end of said lever being secured a connection cable 19. The connection cable 19 is trained around an idler wheel 20 rotatably engaged to the base portion 3 and is connected to one end 21a of a return spring 21 the second end of which 21b is fastened to the carrying structure 2. In greater detail, it is preferably provided that the end 21b should be connected to the base portion 3 through an attachement element 22 which in this embodiment consists of a perforated plate.
The attachment element 22 is provided with a number of holes 23 distributed such as to be differently spaced from the first end 21a of spring 21 and each of them is adapted to engage the second end 21b of said spring in order to achieve a determined preloading of the latter.
A third frame 24 is rotatably pivoted, at one end 24a thereof, to the second end of the second frame 11; said thrid frame consists of two longitudinal members 25 that are mutually connected by means of crosspieces 26 engaging them at the respective opposite ends. Elastic staves 27 similar to the above mentioned staves 9 and 13 extend between the crosspieces 26 and they are disposed at right angles to the first staves. In addition, fixed supporting feed 28 are rigidly fastened to one of the crosspieces 26 located close to the free end 24b of the third frame 24.
The framework 1 in accordance with the invention further comprises two movable supporting feet 29 each of them being hinged to one of the longitudinal members 12 in the second frame 11, adjacent the second end 11b of the latter. Pivoted to each movable foot 29 is one tie rod 30 rotatably connected, on the side opposite that facing the foot, to one of the longitudinal members at one end 24a of the third frame 24.
A second tie rod 31 is rotatably pivoted to the foot 18 at a location between the pivoting point of the foot itself on the second frame 11 and the pivoting point of the first tie rod 30. On the opposite side with respect to the movable foot 29, the second tie rod 31 is hinged to the upper end of the support 17 in coaxial relation with the pivoting of the second link member 16.
In addition a stuffed element 32 is conventionally associated with framework 1. Said stuffed element 32 is shown in dotted line and is designed to form the padding for the sofa when the framework is disposed in its folded up condition, as shown in Fig. 1 and to serve as a mattress when the framework, as shown in Fig. 4, is in its spread out condition to be used as a bedstead.
Operation of the sofa-bed according to the invention described above mainly as regards structure, is as follows.
As shown in Fig. 1, when the framework 1 is used as a sofa the three frames 6, 11 and 24 are disposed book-folded upon one another. In greater detail, the first frame 6 rests on the base portion 3 of the carrying structure 2 by which it is supported while the second frame 11 is laid upon the first frame 6 and the third frame 24 is laid upon the second frame 11.
The stability of the relative positioning of frames is ensured by the alignment between the pivoting points of the first tie rod 30 on the third frame 24 and the movable foot 29 and the pivoting point of the second tie rod 31 on said movable foot.
When the framework 1 has to be used as a sofa, the stuffed element 32 is folded too, so as to form a first portion 32a and a second portion 32b disposed book-like against the supporting portion 4 to form the back padding 5. Following the second portion 32b there is a third portion 32c extending over the third frame 24 to form the padding for the sofa seat.
When frames 6, 11 and 24 have to be disposed in mutual alignment in order to use the framework 1 as a bedstead, it is sufficient to grip the crosspiece 26 disposed at the free end of the third frame 24 and move it making it substantially carry out an arcuate trajectory in front of the carrying structure 2.
The raising of the third frame 24 causes the overturning of the second frame 11 about the pivoting points of link members 15 and 16 on the attachment bracket 14. Simultaneously with the mutual rotation of frames, due to the action of tie rods 30 and 31 it is possible to achieve the shifting of the movable foot 29 from a rest position, in which the latter is adjacent the second frame 11, to a working condition in which, as shown in Fig. 3, said foot is substantially disposed at right angles to frames 11 and 24 so that it may rest on the floor.
Advantageously, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, the engagement offered by link members 15 and 16 is sufficient to allow the second frame 11 to execute, during the alignment and/or folding operations, shiftings adapted to enable the third frame to keep a substantially horizontal orientation, by virtue of the engagement resulting from the presence of tie rods 30 and 31 and foot 29.
In addition, the movements performed by the second frame will cause, during a first step of the frame aligning operation, a slight backward movement of the first frame 6 on the base portion 3. During a second alignment step, substantially taking place at the conditions shown in Fig. 3, the shiftings of the second frame will on the contrary cause the lifting of the second end 6b of the first frame 6 and the forward movement of the latter with respect to the base portion 3.
Advantageously, during the above mentioned first step portions 10a and 10b of the strut lever 10 will slide with respect to each other to assist the backward movement of the first frame 6. During the second alignment step the strut lever 10 will turn about its pivoting axis on the base portion 3 to bring the first end 6a flush with the second end 6b so that the first frame 6 at the end of the operation will be in alignment with the two other frames 11, 24. As shown in dotted line in Fig. 4, when frames are aligned it will be possible to fix the portions 10a and 10b according to different positions in order to allow the first frame 6 to take the desired inclination.
The alignment and folding operations of frames 6, 11 and 24 are remarkably facilitated due to the action exerted by the return spring 21 on lever 18 through the connection cable 19. In greater detail, during the first step of the frame aligning operation the action of spring 21 will tend to move the lever 18 close to the idler wheel 20, so as to assist the action exerted by the user on the crosspiece 26. During a second step of the frame aligning operation, the lever 18 will be subjected to move again apart from the idler wheel 20, so that the return spring 21 will be preloaded again when the framework is in its spread out condition.
Under this situation the spring 21 is arranged so as to facilitate the initial steps of a subsequent frame folding operation, which is achieved by exerting a lifting action on the crosspiece 26 which is raised from the position shown in Fig. 4 so that the elements of the framework 1 can perform a series of shiftings in a way opposite that described with reference to the alignment operation.
The present invention attains the intended purposes.
In fact the framework of the invention can offer a great comfortableness in use when it is in its spread out condition, that is when used as a bed. In this connection it is to be noted that no crosspieces exist between the first end of the first frame 6 and the second end 11b of the second frame 11. As to the crosspiece 26 at the first end 24a of the third frame 24, it does not cause any particular trouble to the user, as it is substantially disposed at the bottom of the bedstead formed with framework 1.
In addition and advantageously, when the framework is folded up the sofa back 5 formed therewith is not too bulky, which inconvenience is on the contrary present in several types of known frameworks.
The framework of the invention is also very practical in use as far as the frame aligning and folding operations are concerned. It is in fact to be noted that, although the development of these operations has been hereinbefore described as carried out in several steps in succession, the alignment and folding of the frames are achieved respectively by a single operation on the part of the user, consisting in lifting the third frame 24 and causing the translation of the same.
Obviously the present invention is susceptible of many modifications and variations all falling within the inventive idea as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

A folding framework for sofa-beds and the like, comprising:
- fixed carrying structure (2);

- a first frame (6) having one end (6a) connected to the carrying structure (2);

- a second frame (11) having one end (11a) rotatably hinged to the second end (6a) of the first frame (6)

- a third frame (24) having one end (24a) rotatably hinged to the second end (11b) of the second frame (11), said framework (1) lending itself to be brought from an extended condition in which said first, second and third frames (6n 11, 24) are consecutively aligned, to a collapsed or folded up condition in which said frames are mutually superposed,
characterized in that it comprises, for each of its opposed sides:
- an attachment bracket (14) fastened to the first end (11a) of a the second frame (11);

- a first link member (15) pivoted to one end of said attachment bracket (14) and, on the opposite side, to the carrying structure (2);

- a second link member (16) pivoted to the attachment bracket (14) at a location between the second frame (11) and the pivoting point of the first link member (15) and, on the opposite side, to the carrying structure (2) at a raised location with respect to the pivoting point of the first link member (15) on the carrying structure;

- a supporting foot (29) hinged to the second end (11b) of the second frame (11);

- a first tie rod (30) pivoted to the first end (24a) of the third frame (24) and, on the opposite side, to said foot (29);

- a second tie rod (31) pivoted to the foot (29) at a location between the second frame (11) and the pivoting point of the first tie rod (30) and, on the opposite side, to the carrying structure (2).
A framework according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a lifting lever (18) fastened to the first end (11a) of the second frame (11), a connection cable (19) secured to said lifting lever (18) and trained around an idler wheel (20) engaged to the carrying structure (2) and a return spring (21) one end of which (21a) is connected to the connection cable (19) on the side opposite that facing the lifting lever (18) and the second end (21b) of which is engaged to the carrying structure (2), said lifting lever (18) being designed to move close to and again apart from said idler wheel (20) when the framework is brought from its folded condition to its spread out condition.
A framework according to claim 2, characterized in that the second end (21b) of said spring (21) is engaged to the carrying structure (2) by means of an attachment element (22) fixed to the carrying structure itself and provided with a number of holes (23) distributed thereon in such a manner that they are differently spaced from the first end (21a) of spring (21).
A framework according to claim 1, characterized in that said frame (6) is connected to the carrying structure (2) through at least a strut lever (10) comprising two portions (10a, 10b) telescopically engaged with each other.
A framework according to claim 4, characterized in that said portions (10a, 10b) can be fixedly set according to a desired mutual positioning when the framework (1) is in its spread out condition.