EP1779748A1

EP1779748A1 - Sofa bed, advantageously for children

Info

Publication number: EP1779748A1
Application number: EP06122754A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Franco Tantolo
Original assignee: TNT di Tantolo Franco e Mauro SNC
Current assignee: TNT di Tantolo Franco e Mauro SNC
Priority date: 2005-10-28
Filing date: 2006-10-23
Publication date: 2007-05-02
Also published as: ITUD20050183A1

Abstract

A sofa bed (10), advantageously for children, comprises a frame (12) provided with a base (14), and a cushion (18) having one end fixed to the base (14), wherein the cushion (18) has a first closed position above the base (14) in the sofa function, and a second open position, outside and substantially co-planar with the base (14), in the bed function.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a sofa bed, advantageously for children.
The sofa bed according to the present invention is configured as a piece of transformable furniture which can also function as a playpen, or partly closed play area, for example for newborns or in any case for very small children.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sofa beds of a known type comprise a frame with which a mobile and/or opening structure is connected, normally made of metal, and comprising at least an element that is disposed plane, in the extended condition, to support a cushion or mattress. This support element can be moved between a first closed position, defining the sofa function, and a second open position defining the bed function.
The use of the mobile and/or opening structure however makes it complicated and costly to produce the sofa bed. Moreover, moving the structure between the two positions, open and closed, can be difficult for the user, it may entail bending and/or require quite heavy loads to be lifted.
One purpose of the present invention is to make a sofa bed, advantageously for children, which can be produced simply, quickly and economically, and which allows movement between the sofa function and the bed function to be made quickly and simply, even by the child himself.
Another purpose is to achieve a sofa bed that can assume the function of a playpen or delimited play area for newborns or even very small children.
The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the main claim, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.
In accordance with the above purposes, a sofa bed according to the present invention, advantageously for children, comprises a frame provided with a base.
According to a characteristic of the present invention, the sofa bed also comprises at least a cushion, opening and/or folding over on itself, having one end fixed to the base; the cushion has a first position, above the base in the sofa function, and a second position outside and substantially co-planar with the base in the bed function.
In this way, the sofa bed according to the present invention can be produced in an extremely simple and economical way, as it does not require any mobile metal structure to be used. Moreover, the passage from the sofa function configuration to that of the bed function and vice versa can be executed extremely quickly and simply, without requiring heavy weights to be lifted, without requiring particular bending or efforts, and can therefore be done even by a child.
In another form of embodiment of the present invention, on the sides of the sofa bed, as an extension of the sides of the frame, a containing and protection element is provided, folding over on itself with the opening cushion, in order to delimit an inner space substantially closed on at least three sides, usable as a playpen for newborns and very small children. According to a variant, the containing and protection element can be detached from said opening cushion.
In another embodiment, on at least one flank and/or on the rear of the back of the frame at least a container for objects, toys, books and magazines or other is provided. The container can also be applied fixedly or removable with respect to the frame of the sofa bed.
In still another embodiment, at the sides and/or front of the opening cushion slides are provided, or footboards or similar elements, solid or detachable with respect to the cushion, to facilitate the newborn or baby in getting out of the inner space of the sofa bed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferential form of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

fig. 1 is a three-dimensional view of a sofa bed according to the present invention in a first position of use, as a sofa;
fig. 2 is a three-dimensional view of the sofa bed in fig. 1 in an intermediate position;
fig. 3 is a three-dimensional view of the sofa bed in fig. 1 in a second position of use, as a bed;
fig. 4 shows a variant of fig. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERENTIAL FORM OF EMBODIMENT

With reference to the attached drawings, a sofa bed 10 according to the present invention comprises a frame 12 provided with a base 14, two lateral flanks 15 and a back 16 connected to three respective sides of the base 14.
The frame 12 is advantageously made of wood, plastic material or foamed material, advantageously covered and/or enhanced with materials suitable for furnishing.
To be more exact, the covering is advantageously of the removable type, so that it can be washed and possibly replaced. The covering material used is preferentially cloth or fabric of the washable type, even though it is provided to use other materials, such as leather or other suitable material.
The sizes of the frame 12 are variable depending on the function to which the sofa bed 10 is intended, for example exclusively for children or for adults.
The base 14 preferably consists of a first padded cushion, for example of foam rubber or similar suitable material, having a cover.
The sofa bed 10 also comprises a second cushion 18, made for example in a similar way to the base 14, and having one long side fixed to the base 14, for example in correspondence with the side 14a of the base 14 facing towards the outside with respect to the frame 12.
The second cushion 18, in this case, is divided into two parts, respectively first part 18a and second part 18b, able to fold with respect to a folding zone 19, substantially rectilinear and preferably parallel to the side 14a of the base 14. The two parts 18a and 18b of the second cushion 18 can be made starting from two foam rubber elements, distinct and connected to each other by means of a single covering, or by a single foam rubber element able to fold over itself.
Each of the parts 18a and 18b of the second cushion 18 preferably has a thickness substantially equal to the overall height of the base 14 with respect to the floor, and also variable according to the preferential intended use of the sofa bed 10.
The second cushion 18 has a first closed position (fig. 1) in which its two parts 18a and 18b are folded one over the other and are above the base 14, to define the sofa function, padded, of the sofa bed 10.
To modify the configuration of the sofa bed 10, the user progressively extracts the first part 18a (fig. 2) so as then to also open the second part 18b with respect to the base 14.
This opening continues until the two parts 18a and 18b of the second cushion 18 are completely lying on the floor (fig. 3), defining a configuration in which said parts 18a and 18b are disposed substantially aligned and co-planar with the base 14 to define the bed function.
According to a variant, the second cushion 18 is divided into three or more parts connected with each other.
In its preferential use for newborns or small children, the sofa bed 10, as shown in the variant in fig. 4, has lateral containing elements consisting in this case of a net 20 able to fold over on itself and fixed both on the upper edge, advantageously on both sides, of the second cushion 18, and also on the front edge of the flanks 15 of the frame 12.
The variant in fig. 4 also shows the possibility of applying object-carrying elements 21, for example also made of net or suchlike, on one or both the flanks 15 of the frame 12 and/or on the rear of the back 16 of the frame 12.
It is also provided that on the sides and/or front of the second cushion 18 there are present, or applicable in removable fashion, slides or small footboards 22 which allow the newborn or baby to get out of the inner space delimited by the frame 12 and the possible containing nets 20 without jumping or discontinuity.
It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the sofa bed 10 as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.
For example, the frame 12 could be supported by feet or other supporting means, and the thickness of each of the parts 18a and 18b could consequently be greater than that of the base 14, in order to compensate for the different height and guarantee that the upper surface of the base 14 and the parts 18a, 18b of the second cushion 18 are co-planar.
It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of sofa bed, advantageously for children, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

Claims

Sofa bed, advantageously for children, comprising at least a frame (12) provided at least with a base (14), characterized in that it also comprises at least a cushion (18) having one end fixed to said base (14), the cushion (18) having a first closed position above said base (14) in the sofa function, and a second open position, outside and substantially co-planar with said base (14), in the bed function.
Sofa bed as in claim 1, characterized in that said cushion (18) comprises at least two parts, respectively first (18a) and second (18b), connected to each other in such a manner that they fold with respect to each other.
Sofa bed as in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said cushion (18), or each part (18a, 18b) thereof, has a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of said base (14).
Sofa bed as in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said frame (12) is supported by support means, characterized in that said cushion (18) has a thickness substantially equal to the sum of the thickness of said base (14) and the height of said support means.
Sofa bed as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said cushion (18) is made of covered foam rubber.
Sofa bed as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said frame (12) is made of wood, plastic material or foamed material.
Sofa bed as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that it comprises lateral delimitation elements (20) associated or able to be associated with the sides at least of said cushion (18).
Sofa bed as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that it comprises object-containing elements associated or able to be associated with the flanks (15) or the rear of said frame (12).
Sofa bed as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that it comprises slide elements, footboards or suchlike, associated or able to be associated with the lateral edges and/or front of said cushion (18).
Sofa bed as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said frame (12) is equipped with a cover of the removable type.