EP0433099A1 - Couch - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a seat such as a couch, armchair or settee, which will be applied in particular by furniture manufacturers. …<??>The invention concerns the conversion of seats with low aesthetic lines into comfortable seats. For this purpose, the back (3) of the seat (1) comprises articulated headrests (8) which can either be deployed vertically in order to provide a support zone for the whole of the back and a head rest for the occupant of the seat, or can be folded down against the back (3) in order to become retracted and comply with the aesthetic lines of the furniture. …<IMAGE>…

Description

The invention relates to a seat, such as an armchair, sofa, living room bench or meeting room. It will find its application in particular in furniture manufacturers.

Although the invention was more specifically developed in the context of the manufacture of sofas or couches for domestic use, it can also easily be extended to seats in general which include at least one backrest.

Furniture manufacturers face two problems. On the one hand, they must offer their customers aesthetic products which can of course be of different styles and, on the other hand, these sets must be functional and comfortable. It turns out in practice that these two objectives are sometimes difficult to reconcile.

In general, aesthetics take precedence. Indeed, this is the first element taken into consideration by the buyer who, firstly, examines what is offered to him. It is also necessary that the purchase fits with the style of the room and therefore, the buyer is more or less guided in his choice, especially since very often he comes to the merchant with already in mind an idea of the style he's looking for.

As for the seats, the old style wanted them relatively high to be comfortable and that harmonized relatively well with the constructions of the time for which the rooms were large and high.

With contemporary furniture, the modern style fits more with the functional dwellings known today. Apartments and even houses offer relatively small rooms and above all are quite low in ceiling height. Therefore, modern furniture has a more collected line. The shapes are rounded to give an impression of softness and comfort. In general, for manufacturing, we use a wooden or metallic frame padded with polyurethane foam and covered with a removable lining fabric to be cleaned. The modern style lends itself perfectly to the manufacture of sofa beds. It is a sofa whose seat can be folded out to form a bed or which hides a retractable bed base. This is a very interesting feature, much sought after today to have an extra bed.

The use of polyurethane foam padding makes it possible to benefit from a comfortable seat at the level of the seat which can also be reinforced by a bottom with springs, slats or other elastic elements.

However, it turns out that this style of contemporary furniture lacks comfort during prolonged use. For example, when the sofa or armchair is used to watch a television program in family privacy, the relatively low back of the furniture is a disadvantage because there is poor support of the upper back which cannot rest on a support element. The second element of discomfort is the relatively straight slope of the backrest. It is indeed more comfortable to be able to lie down somewhat on the seat rather than having your back straight.

Some furniture manufacturers have specially designed comfortable seats for the elderly, where the aforementioned defects have been eliminated. For this, the seat immediately has a very high backrest to offer the user not only support for the back but also for the head. Then, the seat is mounted on a slide to have at least two positions. One is straight, in which case the seat is pushed into the seat and the backrest is straight. With the other position, the seat moves towards the front of the seat and the backrest reclines to follow the movement of the seat, which provides a position in which the person is more reclining.

In terms of comfort, this type of seat offers all satisfaction; on the other hand, with regard to aesthetics, this is much more questionable. Indeed, the backrest is very high and therefore the seat does not integrate easily into a modern setting. It should also be noted that this type of furniture is very heavy because it involves important mechanics using numerous slides and compensation springs. In conclusion, it is a very expensive, heavy and bulky piece of furniture and which, consequently, can only interest a limited clientele.

The purpose of the present invention is to present a seat such as a sofa, compatible with the contemporary constraints of modern aesthetics, that is to say a low line which can be transformed to become comfortable, that is to say that is to offer users a backrest which extends all along the back and also a headrest, the unfolded backrest being inclined to allow a more extended position of the occupant.

It is therefore a very aesthetic piece of furniture for reception or when unused, which can be transformed into a comfortable seat in a family setting for, for example, watching television.

It should be emphasized that this transformation capacity according to the present invention is fully compatible with the sofa bed conversion. This is an additional option.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it is completely invisible when the sofa is in the so-called "aesthetic" position so as not to harm the line. Furthermore, the transformation necessary to benefit from the characteristics of the invention does not weigh down the seat and remains relatively inexpensive, which does not handicap the price of the product.

The seat, such as a sofa, which interests furniture manufacturers, includes a padded frame forming a seat, a backrest and possibly armrests, furnished with cushions, it is characterized by the presence of retractable means which, when they are put in place, provide comfort to the sofa or seat by raising the backrest to provide a support area for the entire back and also a headrest, without detracting from the aesthetics of said seat when the means are retracted.

• - la fiqure 1 schématise un canapé de salon vu selon sa ligne esthétique,
• - la figure 2 représente le canapé de salon de la figure 1 lorsque les éléments de confort sont déployés,
• - la figure 3 montre en vue de coupe le déploiement de la têtière,
• - la figure 4 schématise en vue transversale le canapé de salon de l'invention avec la têtière repliée,
• - la figure 5 montre le canapé de salon de l'invention lorsque la têtière est déployée et le coussin de dossier incliné,
• - la figure 6 montre l'utilisation des coussins d'accoudoirs comme coussins de repose tête,
• - les figures 7a et 7b schématisent un mode de réalisation de la présente invention, dans lequel les têtières comportent en outre un coussin d'appuie tête respectivement en position déployée et en position repliée,
• - les figures 8a et 8b montrent une variante d'exécution de la figure 7, équipée d'un coussin cale-reins, respectivement en position déployée et en position repliée,
• - la figure 9 montre une variante d'exécution dans laquelle la têtière est glissée dans l'épaisseur du dossier,
• - la figure 10 montre une autre variante dans laquelle la têtière peut être fixée sur le dossier du canapé à différentes positions réglables en hauteur.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, accompanied by attached drawings, among which:

• - Figure 1 shows a living room sofa seen according to its aesthetic line,
• FIG. 2 represents the living room sofa of FIG. 1 when the comfort elements are deployed,
• - Figure 3 shows in section view the deployment of the headrest,
• FIG. 4 shows diagrammatically in transverse view the living room sofa of the invention with the headrest folded back,
• FIG. 5 shows the living room sofa of the invention when the headrest is deployed and the backrest cushion inclined,
• FIG. 6 shows the use of the armrest cushions as headrest cushions,
• FIGS. 7a and 7b show schematically an embodiment of the present invention, in which the headrests further comprise a headrest cushion respectively in the deployed position and in the folded position,
• FIGS. 8a and 8b show an alternative embodiment of FIG. 7, equipped with a lumbar cushion, respectively in the deployed position and in the folded position,
• FIG. 9 shows an alternative embodiment in which the headrest is slid through the thickness of the backrest,
• - Figure 10 shows another variant in which the headrest can be fixed on the back of the sofa at different positions adjustable in height.

The present invention relates to a seat such as a sofa, armchair, bench seat in a living room or meeting room, which will find its application in particular in furniture manufacturers.

More generally, the invention can perfectly be applied to any seat provided that it is provided with a backrest.

When different objectives have to be reached, sometimes certain incompatibilities in the required characteristics arise. This is particularly the case with furniture elements when they have to meet certain aesthetic criteria of style and a search for comfort.

Contemporary furniture tends to have a low line picked up to match the low-ceilinged rooms of today's homes. Unfortunately, this can only be achieved by making furniture with a low backrest, which prevents the occupant from being offered a soft support surface for the entire back. This constitutes a significant handicap when the furniture is used in a family setting where aesthetics hardly matter but comfort is important for, for example, watching television programs.

On the other hand, the so-called "very comfortable" seats, which benefit from a very high backrest and at least a double straight or elongated seating position, are completely unsightly, very heavy, bulky and expensive and are generally only 'in one place.

The purpose of the present invention is precisely to put in place means on a seat to give it both a modern aesthetic with low line in every respect similar to existing contemporary furniture as a second comfortable position where the aesthetic questions are less important or different when comfort comes first.

By way of example, the means of the invention have been put in place on a contemporary sofa as illustrated in FIG. 1 under the reference (1), although they can also be put in place on an armchair or any seat generally equipped with a backrest.

The living room sofa (1) comprises a generally wooden or metallic frame padded and covered with a fabric for upholstery similar to current productions. This frame forms a seat (2) and a backrest (3) framed in the present case by armrests (4 and 5). The seat (2) and the backrest (3) are respectively furnished with cushions (6 and 7).

As intentionally chosen in Figure 1, the living room sofa is modern in style, that is to say that it has a very short backrest which is located here at the level of the armrests (4 and 5). Aesthetically, nothing suggests that the living room sofa in Figure 1 contains the retractable transformation means of the present invention.

When they are put in place, the retractable transformation means of the invention provide elements of great comfort to the sofa as illustrated in FIG. 2.

These transformation means are in the form of headrests (8) made in one or more parts, as illustrated in Figure 2, which are deployed at the top of the backrest (3) to raise them and provide a comfortable area to support the entire back of the occupant of the sofa and also to allow him to rest his head. In the example chosen, the two headrests (8) illustrated are independent and can be installed individually.

It is a two-seater sofa therefore comprising two headrests, those skilled in the art will easily adapt the number of headrests to the number of occupants provided for the seat.

A second element of comfort is to be emphasized when the headrests (8) are deployed, the inclination of the back cushions (7) is greater. Indeed, in parallel with the placement of the headrests (8), an additional inclination of the cushions (7) is obtained which favors the adoption of a more elongated position for the occupant because the thickness of the backrest is for example halved.

In Figure 3 is shown schematically the implementation of the processing means which are in the form of a headrest (8) foldable on the backrest (3). It should be noted that the headrest (8) is preferably articulated around the upper middle part (9) of the backrest (3), which allows the upholstery fabric to be stretched and perfectly cover the top of the backrest when the headrest (8) is folded against the backrest (3). On the contrary, when the headrest (8) is deployed, the upholstery fabric folds between the headrest and the backrest without wrinkling. In the example chosen, the headrest (8) and upper part of the backrest (3) have the same thickness, which justifies the choice of the part median for folding, however this characteristic is not an imperative.

The headrest (8) is stopped in its deployed position by an elastic stop preferably. This makes it possible to obtain a modification of the inclination of the headrest (8) when pressing on it, which constitutes an additional element of comfort.

The elastic stop is very easily obtained by compression of the surface padding of the backrest (3) and the headrest (8).

The transformation means of the invention are also in the form of a back cushion (7) articulated relative to the seat cushion (6), that is to say capable of being tilted. Furthermore, the back cushion (7) has a movable upper stop (10). Thus, depending on the support position of the upper stop (10), the cushion (7) can more or less tilt.

Figure 4 illustrates in cross-sectional view the different elements of the living room sofa according to the invention. The seat cushion (6) is itself fixed by an edge (11) on the front of the sofa (1). The back cushion (7) is secured by an edge (12) to the seat cushion (6), which allows it to articulate relative to the latter, to make a bed for example. The joints in question are of the textile type, preferably it is a zipper, one side of which is secured to the back cushion (7) and the other side which is secured to the seat cushion ( 6). Similarly with regard to the edge (11) connecting the seat cushion (6) on the frame of the sofa (1), very often a simple textile hinge is used, which is invisible. We can also use a zipper, one side of which is secured to the seat cushion (6) and the other side of the upholstery fabric of the sofa (1). You can also use a simple textile band sewn to each of the pieces or a loop and hook or snap fastening system in place of the zippers.

The use of slide fasteners allows the element to be cleaned to be detached if necessary.

According to the invention, the stop of the back cushion (7) is constituted by the headrest (8), as illustrated in FIG. 4. Under these conditions, when the headrest (8) is folded against the backrest (3) , the cushion has a more upright position since the support stop (10) is located forward.

On the other hand, when the headrest (8) is deployed, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the back cushion (7) sees its support stop move backwards to come into contact with the backrest (3). In this case, the cushion (7) is more inclined. Indeed, the seat cushion (6) is fixed due to its connection (11) with the lining of the sofa and therefore the connecting edge (12) is also fixed and due to the reduced thickness of the backrest (3 ) since the headrest (8) is deployed, the cushion (7) tilts. This allows the occupant to benefit from a more reclining position.

The manufacturer can determine the degree of inclination of the cushion (7) by choosing the thickness of the headrest (8).

It should be noted that this additional inclination of the backrest (7) when the sofa is in the comfort position, pushes the occupants to place a cushion (13) on the headrest (8) as illustrated in Figure 6, to increase the padding of the headrest and thus improving the comfort of the lying position. To do this, the occupants take a cushion they have on hand and generally they use the armrest cushion which is not provided for this purpose. This can be embarrassing because it will tend to get dirty more easily and moreover, if the cushion is used as a headrest, the armrest is deprived of it.

This is why according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 7, the headrest (8) is advantageously fitted with a cushion (14), which is fixed to the upper part of the headrest (8) by a flexible connection ( 15). This flexible connection can be either a textile band, a zipper, the latter solution offering the advantage of being able to disassemble the cushion (14) to clean it.

In parallel, the seat back (3) (1) has at its base a hollow (16) in which the cushion (14) can be housed when the headrest (8) is folded against the backrest (3), as illustrated in Figure 7a.

The hollow (16) has been judiciously chosen at the base of the backrest (3) because, at this level, the cushion (14) does not have to be completely embedded in the hollow (16), in fact it can come out slightly and extend beyond the thickness of the headrest (8) without creating a bump under the cushion (7) of the backrest.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7a, the positioning of the cushion (14) is automatic during the deployment of the headrest (8). Fixed by the strip (15) to the headrest (8), the cushion (14) is applied by itself against the headrest (8). Similarly, when the headrest (8) is folded down, the cushion (14) is placed under the headrest (8) and in the recess (16) of the backrest.

In another alternative embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in Figures 8, there is further provided a cushion (17) lumbar support.

Figure 8a shows the structure of the seat and we find as in the previous mode, a headrest (8) articulated in (9) on the backrest (3) and a headrest cushion (14) articulated in (15) on said headrest (8). These two elements (8 and 14) operate on the same principle as in FIGS. 7 and FIGS. 8a and 8b respectively show the headrest out position and the headrest and headrest folded back.

However, the essential difference with the previous embodiment lies in the presence of the lumbar cushion (17) connected to the headrest cushion (14) by a flexible band (18).

In the deployed position, as shown in FIG. 8a, the headrest (8) is completely unfolded, the headrest cushion (14) comes to rest on the headrest, and the strip of fabric (18) keeps the cushion wedge- kidneys (17) in the desired position so that the back cushion (7) is properly held.

However, in the folded position, as shown in Figure 8b, that is to say in a position of non-use of the headrest (8), the latter, by means of the articulation (9) returns to the retracted position while the head cushion (14) returns in its extension to the backrest (3).

By gravity, the kidney cushion (17) is placed in the hollow (16) provided at the base of the seat between the backrest and the seat. We can then replace above the set of folded elements (8, 14) the back cushion (7) which can for example have two different shapes, a first upper cushion of rectangular section (23) and a second lower cushion having a circular part (24) capable of marrying part of the periphery of the lumbar cushion (17).

In the previous examples, the movement of the headrest (8) is a rotational movement, which constitutes the preferred embodiment of the invention. However, other movements can also be chosen, such as a translational movement.

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of the backrest (3) in which the headrest (8) slides into a slot (19) made in the thickness of the backrest (3).

Another variant is presented in FIG. 10 in which the headrest (8) has hooking means (20) coming to adapt to complementary fixing means (21). These means (20) have been provided at different heights to provide an adjustment of the position of the headrest (8) in height according to the wishes of the user.

In FIG. 5, the lower cushion (6) is mounted on a slide in order to be able to stretch forward in a position (22) as shown in dotted lines, which increases the inclination of the back cushion (7).

Claims (10)

Seat, such as sofa, armchair, bench in living room, meeting room or other, which will find its application among furniture manufacturers, which includes a padded frame forming a seat (2), a backrest (3) and possibly armrests (4 and 5) furnished with cushions (6 and 7), characterized in that it has retractable transformation means (8) to provide the user with a comfortable support area for the entire back and also a headrest and / or an inclination of the back cushion (7) to provide comfort to the sofa (1) when said transformation means are put in place, without harming the aesthetics of the latter when they are retracted. Seat according to claim 1, characterized in that the means are in the form of headrests (8) foldable on the backrest (3) or translatable. Seat according to claim 2, characterized in that the headrests (8) are articulated (9) on the backrest (3). Seat according to claim 3, characterized in that the headrest (8) is stopped by an elastic stop. Seat according to claim 1, characterized in that the transformation means are in the form of a back cushion (7) articulated relative to the seat (2) and of a movable upper stop (10) . Seat according to claim 5, characterized in that the back cushion (7) is secured by an edge (12) of the seat cushion (6). Seat according to claim 6, characterized in that the seat cushion (6) is fixed by an edge (11) to the front of the sofa (1). Seat according to claim 5, characterized in that the stop (10) of the back cushion (7) is constituted by the headrest (8). Seat according to claim 3, characterized in that a cushion (14) is fixed by an edge (15) to the upper part of the headrest (8), said cushion (14) being retractable in a recess (16) made at the base of the backrest (3) for this purpose. Seat according to claim 3, characterized in that a lumbar cushion (17) is fixed to the lower part (15) of the headrest (8) by a strip of canvas (18) whose length allows it to retract into a recess (16) made at the base of the backrest (3).

Images