GB2127683A

GB2127683A - Convertible table

Info

Publication number: GB2127683A
Application number: GB8228498A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leonard Frederick Servante
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-10-06
Filing date: 1982-10-06
Publication date: 1984-04-18
Also published as: GB2127683B

Abstract

A table which is capable of being converted into a bed comprises four closed sides (1-4) and a lid (5) which is capable of being moved between a first, closed, position in which it rests on the table sides and a second position in which it is clear of said sides. A foldable bed is pivotally mounted in the table and consists of a plurality of interconnected sections (16-20). The bed is capable of being moved from a first, folded, position in which it is accommodated within the table and a second, extended, position in which it extends from the table for use as a bed and vice versa. The table may be mounted on casters (8). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Convertible table The invention relates to furniture and is particularly concerned with articles of furniture which can be converted for different uses.

The invention is more especially concerned with low tables of the kind known in the trade as coffee tables and reference to tables in this specification is intended to mean coffee tables or the like having a low height.

According to the invention, there is provided a table which is capable of being converted into a bed wherein the table comprises four closed sides and a lid capable of being moved between a first position in which it rests on said table sides and a second position in which it is clear of said sides and wherein a foldable bed is mounted in the table and is capable of being moved from a first, folded, position in which it is accommodated within the table and a second, extended, position in which it extends from the table for use as a bed and vice versa.

With the bed folded and accommodated within the table and the lid fitted on the table sides, the article has the appearance of a conventional coffee table with closed sides. However, the accommodation of the bed within the table provides the facility of an extra bed for guests, for example, without the bed occupying any room space when it is not required for use.

The lid is preferably completely detachable but may be hingedly connected to one of the sides of the table so as to form a head-board for the bed when said bed is extended. The bed will then normally extend from the table from the side opposite to that to which the lid is connected. This side of the table may have a reduced height with respect to the other sides to facilitate movement of the bed between its folded and extended positions.

Preferably, the bed is pivotably connected to the two remaining sides of the table and consists of a plurality of sections which are pivotally connected together. A mattress will normally be fitted to the bed and folded with said sections when the bed is to be stored within the table.

The underneath surface of the lid may be padded if desired to facilitate its use as a headboard when the bed is in use. The table will then have sufficient dimensions to accommodate the padding as well as the bed in the closed position of the bed. Sufficient space may also be provided to accommodate bedding materials such as sheets and blankets or a sleeping bag as well as a pillow within the table when the bed is folded and the lid is in the closed position.

A shelf may be provided to extend between the head of the bed and the head-board. The shelf is preferably detachably fitted in the table.

The bed may be a single bed or a double bed, the dimensions of the table being arranged to accommodate a bed with minimum permissible spacing between the sides of the bed and the adjacent sides of the table.

The table is preferably mounted on casters but this is not essential.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a table according to the invention with a bed in the folded position and contained therein; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the table shown in Fig. 1 with the bed shown in the extended position and the lid raised; Fig. 3 is a side view of the bed in the extended position; and Fig. 4 is a side view of the bed in a partially folded position.

Referring to the drawings, the table consists essentially of a rectangular box having four sides 1, 2, 3 and 4 and a lid 5. The lid is pivotally connected to the rear side or back 1 of the table by a hinge 6. The front 3 of the table is lower than the back 1 or sides 2, 4 and the lid 5 is provided with a narrow strip 7 which fills the gap which would otherwise be left between the top of the front 3 and the lid 5 when said lid is in the closed position. Casters 8 are fitted to the bottom of the table at the corners and it will be seen from Fig. 1 that with the bed in the folded position and with the lid closed, the table has a conventional appearance.

When the bed is required for use, the lid 5 is moved to the raised position shown in Fig. 2 and is retained in this, substantially vertical, position by a catch 9. The bed is provided with a pair of strips 11 (Fig. 3) which are secured, e.g. by screws, to the sides 2 and 4 of the table on the inner surfaces of said sides. A pair of links 12, 1 3 are pivotally mounted at each side to a respective strip 11 and a pair of arms 1 4 are pivotally connected to the respective links 13.Each arm 14 is substantially L-shaped, being connected at one end of one leg to the associated link 1 3. Springs 1 5 extend between the junctions of the legs of the L-shaped arms 14 to fixed points on the strips 1 The end of the other leg of each arm 14 and the links 12 are pivotally connected to a first section 1 6 of a bed.

The bed consists of three main sections 1 6, 17 and 1 8 and two intermediate sections 1 9 and 20.

The intermediate section 1 9 is located between and pivotally connected to the first section 1 6 and the second or middle section 17. Similarly, the intermediate section 20 is located between and pivotally connected to the middle section 1 7 and the third or end section 1 8.

A first leg or stand 21 is pivotally connected to the bed by means of pairs of articulated links 22 and 23 on each side of the bed and a second leg or stand 24 is pivotally connected to the bed by means of pairs of articulated links 25 and 26 on each side of the bed. A mattress 27 is laid on the bed as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

In order to stow the bed from its extended position shown in Fig. 2 into the folded position within the table, the end section 1 8 is first folded up onto the middle section 1 7. The intermediate section 20 then extends substantially at right angles to the sections 17 and 18 which are virtually parallel to one another. The stand 24 at this point extends substantially vertically upwards and it can now be folded down onto the end section 1 8. The middle section 1 7 is then raised and pivoted so that it overlies the first section 1 6 with the end section 1 8 and stand 24 sandwiched between them.The stand 21 at this point extends upwards and it can now be folded down onto the middle section 1 7 when the bed will have the appearance illustrated in Fig. 4. The mattress 27 has been omitted from Fig. 4 for the sake of clarity but it will be understood that the mattress will normally be folded up with the various sections of the bed.

The whole bed in its folded condition now extends slightly above and partly in front of the table. The first section can now be moved towards the back of the table whereby the links 12, 13 and arms 14 will cause the bed to be tilted and lowered into the table moving towards the back of the table as it does so until the whole of the bed is accommodated within the table. The lid can then be lowered to restore the table for use as a table.

The bed can be withdrawn from the table in a similar but reverse manner. With the lid 5 raised, the folded bed is gripped and raised whereby the linkage will automatically move the bed into the position in which it projects slightly above and partly in front of the table. The lowered upper edge of the front 3 of the table permits the links 22, 23 and 25, 26 to move out of the table without fouling the sides thereof.

The stand 21 can then be pivoted to the raised position and the middle section 1 7 pivoted until it is located in the same horizontal plane as the first section 1 6. This pivoting action will automatically move the stand 21 to its supporting position shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The stand 24 can then be pivoted to the raised position and, finally, the end section 1 8 can be pivoted until it too is located in the same horizontal plane as the first and middle sections 1 6 and 1 7. Again, this pivoting action will automatically move the stand 24 to its supporting position shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

It will be seen that the invention provides an extremely useful article of furniture which is capable of use not only as a coffee table but also as a bed when required.

The invention is not restricted to the above described embodiment but variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the lid may be completely detachable and this alternative may be preferred for safety reasons in order to obviate any risk of the lid crashing down onto the head of a sleeper on the bed.

Claims

1. A table which is capable of being converted into a bed wherein the table comprises four closed sides and a lid capable of being moved between a first position in which it rests on said table sides and a second position in which it is clear of said sides and wherein a foldable bed is mounted in the table and is capable of being moved from a first, folded, position in which it is accommodated within the table to a second, extended, position in which it extends from the table for use as a bed and vice versa.

2. A table according to claim 1, wherein the lid is completely detachable from the sides of said table.

3. A table according to claim 1, wherein the lid is hingedly connected to one of the sides of the table.

4. A table according to claim 3, wherein the lid is adapted to form a head-board for the bed when the lid is in said second position and the bed is in said extended position.

5. A table according to claim 4, wherein a shelf is provided to extend between the head of the bed and the head-board when the lid is in said second position and the bed is in said extended position.

6. A table according to claim 5, wherein the shelf is detachably fitted in the table.

7. A table according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the underneath surface of the lid is at least partially covered with padding material.

8. A table according to any preceding claim, wherein the bed is arranged to extend from one of the sides of the table when it is in its extended position.

9. A table according to claim 8, wherein the side of the table from which the bed extends in its extended position has a reduced height with respect to the other sides to facilitate movement of the bed between its folded and extended positions.

10. A table according to claim 3 and claim 9, wherein the lid is hingedly connected to the side of the table remote from the side from which the bed extends in its extended position and wherein the lid is provided, at or adjacent to its edge remote from the hinge connection, with a side portion adapted to mate with the upper edge of the side having a reduced height, when the lid is in said first position, to form a side having the same appearance of height as the other three sides of the table.

11. A table according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the bed is pivotally connected to the two sides of the table which are adjacent to said one side from which the bed extends in its extended position.

12. A table according to claim 11, wherein the bed consists of a plurality of sections which are pivotally connected together.

13. A table according to claim 12, wherein a mattress is fitted to the bed and is arranged to be folded with said sections when the bed is to be stored in the table.

14. A table according to any preceding claim, wherein the bed has such dimensions that it is capable of accommodating bedding materials such as sheets, blankets and/or a sleeping bag as well as one or more pillows in addition to said bed.

15. A table according to any preceding claim, wherein said table is mounted on casters.

16. A table substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.