EP2340744B1

EP2340744B1 - Monoblock furniture system comprising a bed/sofa integrated with cabinets and /or bookcase; the bed / sofa slides under the cabinet and / or modular bookcase and allows to create different areas acting alternately as living / sleeping area

Info

Publication number: EP2340744B1
Application number: EP20100425395
Authority: EP
Inventors: Paolo Anzuini
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-12-30
Filing date: 2010-12-27
Publication date: 2013-01-30
Anticipated expiration: 2030-12-27
Also published as: ITRM20090204U1; EP2340744A1

Description

FIELD OF APPLICATION

The present invention relates to a mulifunctional space-saving piece of furniture according to the carachteristics defined in the distinguishing part of claim 1.
Within the production of furniture suitable for small spaces needs and personal confort of individuals are usually sacrficed.
To meet the personal needs of individuals related to the actual space in a house, one is often forced to give up the usual furniture by making a choice between "bed" or "sofa bed", opting, in most cases for a "sofa bed" giving up, visibly and functionally, a living area.
Sofa beds are all conceived with opening and closing mechanisms in order to substantially modify space, since at the time of their opening they covers an area which, at the time of their closure, is walkable. Moreover, once the bed has been opened, the sofa/bed is not susceptible of any function other than the function of the bed itself.
There are different types of in industrial sofas classified according to their opening and closing mechanism and thus relatively to their transformation. Two main types can be identified:

So called "clic clac" sofa beds characterized by a system that allows, through one or more hinges, the configuration of a sofa when the two parts of the structure are approximately perpendicular to each other (sofa), whereas, a bed emerges when these are configured through a locking and unlocking mechanism coplanar with one other (bed).
So-called "folding" that is sofa beds composed of two or more parts, which folding back on each other again through the application of a double hinge, configure a bed according to two sub categories, that is in one case by sliding or by disappearing into the structure giving place to the seat of the sofa.

At the state of the art, everything related to the current "sofa bed" is characterized by a deformation of the skeleton of the structure and its accessories, first in all the mattress.
Always with reference to limited surfaces, individual choices often fall onto another furniture section, such as bookcases and work surfaces. How can one benefit of everything in small spaces?
The purpose of this invention is to provide a piece of furniture (which can be easily realized in serial production) that does'nt put the individual in the position of choosing between "sofa bed" or "bed", between cabinets or bookcases, with the inclusion or exclusion of one or more work surfaces related to personal choices in order to accomplish comfort. This aim is achieved through the realization of a bifacial monoblock composed by a bed, sofa, cabinet, bookcase and work surface. This is all made functional by a sliding mechanism of the bed below the monoblock structure outlining the configuration of two different sofas (when the bed is blocked in the middle of the upper structure) and of a bed (when the bed slides through half of itself in the direction of the area selected as sleeping area).
The characteristics of the man claims allow to achieve the object of the invention; the sub-claims present major advantages in the use of the monoblock.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS (BENEFITS)

The proposed invention provides several advantages both in terms of use of space and in terms of practicalness of use of the furniture components that comprise the structure: sofas / bed / cabinets / bookcase / work surface.
It also allows to divide into two different areas the single available room and it is possible to configure multiple functional solutions by easily changing (not substantially) the monoblock.
Finally, this system presents the advantage of increasing the level of comfort offered by your living area. The mattress does not deform during the sliding mechanism that involves configuring first two sofas and then the bed. This because the structure which identifies the bed itself stays stiff and it is precisely its sliding into the bifacial monoblock that gives the opportunity to have two sofas. It is possible to configure the two sofas when the structure on which the bed rests on is blocked in the middle of the monoblock, removing the view of the bed. Whereas a bed configures when the structure on which the mattress rests on slides for half of its length in the direction of one side creating on this side a sleeping area and thus configuring on the opposite side of the monoblock a living area.
In the living area it is possible to use a working desk integrated to the monoblock.
All this is made possible by an opening located in the lower part of the bifacial monoblock that enables the sliding of the bed on four or more wheels. The transformation of the two sofas in a bed or vice versa define two living areas or one sleeping area.
Essentially, the invention composed by modular cabinets and bookcases consists in a bed integrated into a rigid structure bifacial monoblock. The sliding mechanism previously described permits to configure sofas or a bed and work surfaces. This idea can therefore be described as a space-saving piece of furniture with bed/sofa and not as a sofa-bed.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the invention is to integrate into a single furniture solution all that a small living area needs without sacrificing space and comfort. To adapt oneself doesn't necessarily mean sacrificing oneself.
OBSERVATIONS AND REMARKS on the previous documents to be considered relevant.
FR 373 120 A - 2 May 1907
Optimized flat thanks to a sliding bed that vanishes into the bathroom.
Nevertheless, once the bed vanishes, it can't be used in any function.
FR 2 876 561 A1 - 21 April 2006
In its complete configuration it is not a MONOBLOCK but an assembled furniture, made up of additional pieces with different dimensions and functions.
Furthermore, it does not allow a straight forward usage of the working table. The working area must be accessed through a riser from floor level.
Similar to the previous invention, when the sliding bed vanishes into the container it can't be used in any function.
The bed must always stay constant in height.
DE 361 887 C - 20 October 1922
Deformable bed and mattress. The bed once it vanishes, it can't be used in any function.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following describe execution solutions with reference to the accompanying drawings which are to be considered as non-limiting examples of the present invention in which:

Table 1- Drawing 1 illustrates the furniture piece in accordance with the present invention as seen from the side of the CABINETS (3) with the BED / SOFA (4) blocked by an appropriate system integrated to the WHEELS (7) in the middle of the monoblock. The CUSHIONS (6) are arranged in order to configure one of the two sofas accessible from the sleeping area.
Table 1 - Drawing 2 illustrates the piece of furniture in accordance with the present invention as seen from the side of the CABINETS (3) with the possibility to modulate its components.
Table 2 - Drawing 3 illustrates the furniture piece in accordance with the present invention as seen from the side of the BOOKCASE (2) with the BED / SOFA (4) blocked, in the middle of the monoblock, by a system (e.g. manual or electrical interlocking block) integrated to the WHEELS (7). The CUSHIONS (6) are placed in order to configure one of the two sofas accessible from the living area.
Table 2/3- Drawing 4/5/6 illustrates the furniture piece in accordance with the present invention as seen from the side of the BOOKCASE (2). It is possible to modulate the components of the invention without altering the essence of the invention, increasing its capacity to reduce space.
Table 4 - Drawing 7 illustrates the PIECE OF FURNITURE (1) as seen from the side of the CLOSETS (3) in the BED/SOFAS position (4).
Table 4 - Drawing 8 illustrates the PIECE OF FURNITURE (1) as seen from the side of the CABINETS (3) in the BED position(4) immediately after having locked the WHEELS(7) again, having made the STRUCTURE slide (4) for half of its length (about 1 m)in the direction of the night area. Immediately after, the CUSHIONS (6) are removed for the convenience of the users of a bed that does not deform.
Table 5 - Drawing 9 illustrates the PIECE OF FURNITURE as seen from the side of the BOOKCASE (2). In particular, it is possible to view the sliding of the bed under the monoblock through an opening in the inferior part and at the centre of the same monoblock. The monoblock comprises a DIVIDING PANEL (5) that acts as a rigid support on which the cushions rest on when the two sofas configure.
Table 5 - Drawing 10 illustrates the PIECE OF FURNITURE as seen from the side of the BOOKCASE (2) newly configured as a sofa through the sliding of the STRUCTURE (4) and the positioning of the CUSHIONS (6) consequently to the block of the WHEELS (7).
Table 6 - Drawing 11 illustrates the PIECE OF FURNITURE (1) in the double sofa configuration determined by the central position of the structure of the bed (4). The CUSHIONS(6) lean on the dividing panel and the WHEELS(7) are blocked. Said configuration allows the full use of the living area thanks to the sofa and the BOOKCASE (2) as well as the full use of the sleeping area thanks to the sofa, and the CABINETS (3).
Table 6- Drawing 12 illustrates the PIECE OF FURNITURE(1) in the BED configuration (4) and living/work area where by flipping-over the DIVIDING PANEL this can be used as a working surface. On the sides and above the dividing panel lies the BOOKCASE (2). On the opposite side lie the CABINETS(3).

For clarity purposes, the possible configurations of the monoblock are shown from Table 7 - Drawing 13 to Table 11- Drawing 22.

Claims

Space-saving piece of furniture composed by:
- a Sliding BED (4) on at least four wheels (7) of which at least two are equipped with a stopping system;

- a Bifacial MONOBLOCK (1) comprising CABINETS (3) and BOOKCASE (2), the bifacial monoblock is equipped with an opening at the bottom centre, which is as wide as the width of the bed (4), allowing the bed to slide through the bifacial MONOBLOCK(1);

- a DIVIDING PANEL (5) placed at the centre of the BIFACIAL MONOBLOCK (1) in the area below the utility modules (bookcase and closets) allowing, by placing the CUSHIONS (6), the configuration of two different sofas, one at each side of the MONOBLOCK (1), and each one being the half of the bed,
characterised in that:
- the sliding BED (4) never deforms itself, configuring two separate sofas or two different areas of use, one living area (on the side of the BOOKCASE) and a sleeping area (on the side of the CABINET);

- the mattress, not altered by deformations, is custom-made;

- the wheels integrate a system of locking and release of the rotation, and are also adjustable in height allowing the structure on which the mattress rests to slide through the opening beneath the DIVIDING PANEL(5).
Space-saving furniture piece according to claim 1 characterized in that the CABINETS (3) and BOOKCASE (2) configuring a bifacial FURNITURE PIECE (1) dividing the area in two separate ones with different destinations of use.
Space-saving furniture piece according to claim 1 characterized by the same features of the piece of furniture are customized according to the dimensions of mattress preferred (in case of a single mattress two seats will be shaped).
Space-saving furniture piece according to claim 1 characterized in that it is equipped with a panel suitable to support cushions to be used for sofas or seats.
Space-saving furniture piece according to any claim characterized in that when the bed is placed through and at the bottom centre the monoblock, it is possible to configure two sofas by leaning cushions supported by the dividing panel.
Space-saving furniture piece according to any previous claim characterized in that it is a bed that becomes two separate sofas.
Space-saving furniture piece according to any previous claim characterized in that it delineates two different areas of use, that is living area and sleeping area.
Space-saving furniture piece according to any previous claim characterized in that the sliding system of the bed can be powered electrically.
Space-saving furniture piece according to any previous claim characterized in that it is possible to equip the Monoblock with a complete electrical system by placing switches, lamps and power outlets depending on the area of use.
Space-saving furniture piece according to any previous claim characterized in that the DIVIDING PANEL, being part of the MONOBLOCK, is double at the side of the bookcase as it is possible to ROTATE 90° over the coplanar panel through a simple hinge which allows to be used as WORKING SURFACE(8).