EP0565071A1

EP0565071A1 - Piece of furniture selectively convertible into a bed and into a desktop

Info

Publication number: EP0565071A1
Application number: EP93105729A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giulio Manzoni
Original assignee: OGGIONI OGNIFLEX Srl
Current assignee: OGGIONI OGNIFLEX Srl
Priority date: 1992-04-10
Filing date: 1993-04-07
Publication date: 1993-10-13
Also published as: ITMI920890A0; IT1258321B; ITMI920890A1

Abstract

Piece of furniture which can be selectively converted into a bed and into a desktop comprising a load-bearing framework (1) which supports a bed panel (10) and a desktop (20), both of which can be arranged in a bed position, wherein the bed panel is arranged on a substantially horizontal plane which is superimposed on the desktop and spaced from it, and in a desk position, wherein the desktop, by virtue of a translatory motion parallel to itself, becomes arranged in an uppermost position and the bed panel tilts toward the rear part of the load-bearing framework.

Description

The present invention relates to a piece of furniture which can be selectively converted into a bed and into a desktop.
As is known, a problem that is currently strongly felt in the furniture industry is related to the scarce availability of room, typical of modern living spaces, so that the need is increasingly felt to manufacture pieces of furniture which can be converted, i.e. can perform multiple functions.
Considering the field of beds, various types of sofas which transform into a bed have already been devised, but at the present time the problem of providing a sofa or a bed which can convert into a desktop or a desk has not been solved satisfactorily.
All attempts made so far have proved to be merely palliatives, since a desktop in which one could leave in place objects normally used on a desktop was not available, as these surfaces did not move, during the steps of conversion, parallel to themselves and in any case did not offer, in the position for non-use, spaces sufficient to support any objects present on the surface.
The aim of the present invention is indeed to solve the above problem by providing a piece of furniture which can be converted selectively into a bed and into a desktop and allows to perform conversion from bed to desktop and/or vice versa without having to remove any objects present on the desktop.
Within the scope of the above aim, a particular object of the invention is to provide a piece of furniture which allows to perform its conversion with extremely simple and rapid actions which can be performed without particular efforts.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a piece of furniture which, by virtue of its particular constructive characteristics, is capable of giving the greatest assurances of reliability and safety in use.
Not least object of the present invention is to provide a piece of furniture which can be easily obtained starting from commonly commercially available elements and materials and is furthermore competitive from a merely economical point of view.
This aim, these objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter are achieved by a piece of furniture which can be selectively converted into a bed and into a desktop, according to the invention, characterized in that it comprises a load-bearing framework which supports a bed panel and a desktop, both of which can be arranged in a bed position, wherein said bed panel is arranged on a substantially horizontal plane which is superimposed on said desktop and spaced from it, and in a desk position, wherein said desktop, by virtue of a translatory motion parallel to itself, becomes arranged in an uppermost position and said bed panel tilts toward the rear part of said load-bearing framework.
Further characteristics and advantages will become apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the piece of furniture according to the invention, arranged in the bed position;
figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the piece of furniture according to the invention, arranged in the desktop position;
figure 3 is a transversely sectional elevation view of the piece of furniture in the bed position, with the successive positions which can be assumed during conversion into a desktop shown in dashed lines;
figure 4 is a view of the piece of furniture, converted into a desktop, showing the rotations of its elements.

With reference to the above figures, the piece of furniture selectively convertible into a bed and into a desktop, according to the invention, comprises a load-bearing framework, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, which is preferably but not necessarily shaped like a sofa and has a pair of side panels 2 which are joined to the rear by a back 3 and in a downward region by a reinforcement member 4.
A bed panel, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, is associated with the load-bearing framework and has a bedspring panel 10a on which a conventional mattress 10b is applied.
A desktop, designated by the reference numeral 20 and arranged on a substantially horizontal plane, is furthermore associated with the load-bearing framework.
When the piece of furniture is used as a bed, the desktop is arranged below the bed panel 10 and is spaced therefrom.
During use of the piece of furniture as a desk, the desktop becomes arranged at the upper part of the framework, maintaining at all times during movement a horizontal plane of arrangement.
In order to perform the conversion movements, there are kinematic systems that comprise a pair of mutually parallel primary connecting rods 21; these rods are hinged, at one end, to a side-panel cross-member 22 provided at the side panels 2 and are articulated, at the other end, to the desktop 20.
Furthermore, in order to ensure that the desktop surface moves parallel to itself during the various movements, there is a pair of secondary connecting rods 25; these rods are connected, at one end, respectively to the pivoting point between the primary connecting rods 21 and the desktop 20 and, at the other end, are pivoted to a connecting bar 26 and are associated with guiding pins 27 which slide in guiding slots 28 which are substantially semicircular, are formed on the lateral ends of the desktop and are centered around the pivoting point of the primary and secondary connecting rods.
By means of this type of articulation, when the desktop is moved, as described more clearly hereinafter, it always moves parallel to itself, so that it is always arranged on a horizontal plane, thus allowing to leave objects of various kinds on it even during the steps of the conversion of the piece of furniture.
The bed panel 10 is connected, toward its rear edge, to brackets 30 which are pivoted to the side-panel cross-member 22, in a point which is spaced from the plane of arrangement of the bedspring panel 10a, and in a rearward position with respect to the pivoting point of the pair of primary connecting rods 21.
There is also a traction element 31 which is articulated between the front lateral end of the bedspring panel 10a and a midpoint of the desktop.
In order to discharge the weights during the movement of the desktop and to stably retain it in position during the operations for conversion into a bed and for conversion into a desktop, there is an elastic pusher means constituted by a gas spring 40 which is pivoted between a lower point 41, formed on the side panels 2, and an upper point 42, which is arranged on the bedspring panel 10a on the side opposite to the pivoting point of the traction element with respect to the pivoting point of the brackets 30.
In the bed position, which is more clearly shown in figure 3, the desktop 20 is arranged below the bed panel, which is in a stable position by virtue of the presence of stop rests 50 which are formed on the side panels and engage the ends of the bed panel, which is arranged substantially horizontally.
In this condition, the gas spring 40 is fully compressed and the desktop is pushed toward the rear part.
In order to extract the desktop it is necessary to pull toward the front part, initially overcoming the elastic contrast of the gas spring 40, so that by virtue of the connection of the primary connecting rods the desktop performs a translatory motion along a substantially circular path which is centered around the pivoting point of the pair of primary connecting rods 21 to the side-panel cross-member 22.
During this step, as the desktop performs it sweeping motion due to the connection of the traction element 31, the bed panel 10 is also gradually tilted; said bed panel rotates about the pivoting point of the brackets 30 and tilts toward the rear part of the framework until, in the final position, when the desktop has reached the uppermost position, the bed panel is inclined and tilted backward and arranged between the rear back and the rear end of the desktop.
In these conditions, the panel is in a stable position, since the primary connecting rods 21 are beyond the vertical, so that any weight applied would tend to push the panel toward the rear part, therefore toward a part where it finds a stop abutment; stability is furthermore given by the elastic thrust applied to the bed panel by the gas spring, so that the connection of the traction element which is connected to the bed panel produces traction toward the rear part, consequently making every arrangement stable.
From what has been described above it can thus be seen that the invention achieves the intended aim and objects, and in particular the fact is stressed that a convertible piece of furniture is provided in which it is possible to move the desktop from the bed position to the desk position while keeping the panel arranged horizontally at all times, thus allowing to avoid having to remove any objects which may be present on the panel; said objects are accommodated, in the bed position, in the space which is left between the lower part of the bed panel and the desktop.
Furthermore, the presence of the gas spring allows to at least partially discharge the weight of the panel during movement, so that very small efforts are sufficient to perform all movements.
The invention thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept.
All the details may furthermore be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.
In practice, the materials employed, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to the requirements.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the scope of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

Piece of furniture which can be selectively converted into a bed and into a desktop, characterized in that it comprises a load-bearing framework (1) which supports a bed panel (10) and a desktop (20), both of which can be arranged in a bed position, wherein said bed panel is arranged on a substantially horizontal plane which is superimposed on said desktop and spaced from it, and in a desk position, wherein said desktop, by virtue of a translatory motion parallel to itself, becomes arranged in an uppermost position and said bed panel tilts toward the rear part of said load-bearing framework.
Piece of furniture according to claim 1, characterized in that said load-bearing framework has a pair of side panels (2) which are joined, in a rear position, by a back (3) and by a reinforcement member (4), the kinematic systems for the movement of said panel and of said bed panel being accommodated at said pair of side panels.
Piece of furniture according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said kinematic systems comprise, for each side panel, a pair of mutually parallel primary connecting rods (21) which are pivoted, at one end, to a side-panel cross-member (22) and, at the other end, to said desktop.
Piece of furniture, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a pair of secondary connecting rods (25); said rods being pivoted, at one end, to the point of mutual pivoting between said primary connecting rods and said desktop and, at the other end, to a connecting bar (26), said secondary connecting rods being associated with guiding pins (27) which can slide in guiding slots (28) which are substantially semicircular and are centered around the point of mutual pivoting between said primary connecting rods and said secondary connecting rods.
Piece of furniture according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said bed panel is connected to a pair of brackets (30) which are pivoted to said side-panel cross-member (22) in a point which is spaced from the plane of arrangement of said bedspring panel, in a rearward position with respect to the pivoting point of said pair of primary connecting rods.
Piece of furniture according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a traction element (31) which is articulated between a front lateral end of said bedspring panel and a midpoint of said desktop.
Piece of furniture according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an elastic pusher element (40) which acts between a lower point (41) of said side panels and an upper point (42) located on said bedspring panel, said elastic pusher element being suitable to discharge the weights of said desktop during movement and to retain said desk in a stable position both in the bed position and in the desk position.
Piece of furniture according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises stop rests (50) which are formed on said side panels and engage the ends of said bedspring panel when the piece of furniture is in the bed position.