GB2179849A - Convertible furniture - Google Patents

Abstract

A convertible sofa-bed comprises at least one occasional table and an easy chair whose base is the same height as that of the table or tables and comprised by two superimposed elements hingedly connected at their forward edges, the lower element having floor engaging legs and the upper element having upstanding arm-rests whose height is equal to the height of said legs, whereby the upper element may be swung over to bring said arm-rests into engagement with the floor to provide an extended platform which may be augmented by the occasional table or tables to form a bed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Convertible furniture This invention concerns convertible furniture and more particularly an easy chair and occasional table combination convertible into a bed.

An easy chair having a base comprised by superimposed elements hingedly connected along their forward edges, the lower element being supported above the floor by legs and the upper elements having upstanding armrests is known for example from British Patent Specification No. 2006616. The arrangement is such that the upper element may be swung over so that the arm-rests engage the floor to act as further legs, the two elements then forming an extended platform which may serve as a bed.

The problem with such an arrangement is that in order to obtain adequate length for a bed, even if telescopically extendible section is used as described in the British Patent aforesaid, the elements are of such size as to produce a chair of unusual depth leading to discomfort or an unsightly appearance.

The present invention is based on an appreciation of the possibility of overcoming the problem aforesaid by using an occasional table in combination with a convertible chair to form a bed.

Thus, according to the present invention there is provided the combination of at least one occasional table and an easy chair whose base is the same height as that of the table or tables and comprised by two superimposed elements hingedly connected at their forward edges, the lower element having floor engaging legs and the upper element having upstanding arm-rests whose height is equal to the height of said legs, whereby the upper element may be swung over to bring said arm-rests into engagement with the floor to provide an extended platform which may be augmented by the occasional table or tables to form a bed.

The invention will be further apparent from the following description, with reference to the several figures of the accompanying drawing, which shows, by way of example only, one combination of furniture embodying the invention.

Of the drawings: Figure 1 shows a pespective view of the combination configured as an occasional table and easy chair; and Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the combination configured as a bed.

Referring now to the drawings it will be seen that the easy chair generally indicated at 10 comprises a back 11 and base 12. The back 11 is formed by a rectangular panel whilst the base 12 is formed by two superimposed rectangular panels 13 and 14 hingedly connected at their forward edges 15 by means of hinges 16.

The lower base panel 13 is provided with downwardly projecting side frames 17 and 18 forming floor engaging legs whilst the upper base panel 14 is provided with upstanding side frames 19 and 20 forming arm-rests.

The table is comprised by a rectangular panel 21 forming the top provided with downwardly projecting side frames 22 and 23 forming floor engaging legs.

The frames 17, 18, 19, 20, 22 and 23 are all of equal height and conveniently formed by ciosed loops of tubular steel.

In use, from the configuration shown in Fig.

1 the panel 14 may be swung over to bring the frames 19 and 20 into engagement with the floor to form an extended platform defined by the panels 13 and 14 in end to end relationship. This platform is augmented by juxtaposition of the table to form a support for a mattress or futon 25 to define a bed.

The mattress or futon 25 can be used as upholstery for the chair 10 and folded as shown in Fig. 1 to have one thickness thereof overlying the back 11 of the chair and two thicknesses overlying the base 12 of the chair. Comfort of the chair may be improved by use of side cushions (not shown) to lie alongside the frames 19 and 20.

It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible, without departing from the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

Thus, for example, instead of a single occasional table, two, each of half size, and perhaps therefore more convenient, may be provided.

Again, for example, the back 11 may be adjustable between a vertical and inclined position, when in the bed and chair configurations respectively.

1. A combination of at least one occasional table and an easy chair whose base is the same height as that of the table or tables and comprised by two superimposed elements hingedly connected at their forward edges, the lower element having floor engaging legs and the upper element having upstanding arm-rests whose height is equal to the height of said legs, whereby the upper element may be swung over to bring said arm-rests into engagement with the floor to provide an extended platform which may be augmented by the occasional table or tables to form a bed.

2. A combination according to claim 1 wherein said hingedly connected elements are each comprised by a rectangular panel.

3. A combination according to either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the easy chair has a back comprised by a rectangular panel.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (9)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Convertible furniture This invention concerns convertible furniture and more particularly an easy chair and occasional table combination convertible into a bed. An easy chair having a base comprised by superimposed elements hingedly connected along their forward edges, the lower element being supported above the floor by legs and the upper elements having upstanding armrests is known for example from British Patent Specification No. 2006616. The arrangement is such that the upper element may be swung over so that the arm-rests engage the floor to act as further legs, the two elements then forming an extended platform which may serve as a bed. The problem with such an arrangement is that in order to obtain adequate length for a bed, even if telescopically extendible section is used as described in the British Patent aforesaid, the elements are of such size as to produce a chair of unusual depth leading to discomfort or an unsightly appearance. The present invention is based on an appreciation of the possibility of overcoming the problem aforesaid by using an occasional table in combination with a convertible chair to form a bed. Thus, according to the present invention there is provided the combination of at least one occasional table and an easy chair whose base is the same height as that of the table or tables and comprised by two superimposed elements hingedly connected at their forward edges, the lower element having floor engaging legs and the upper element having upstanding arm-rests whose height is equal to the height of said legs, whereby the upper element may be swung over to bring said arm-rests into engagement with the floor to provide an extended platform which may be augmented by the occasional table or tables to form a bed. The invention will be further apparent from the following description, with reference to the several figures of the accompanying drawing, which shows, by way of example only, one combination of furniture embodying the invention. Of the drawings: Figure 1 shows a pespective view of the combination configured as an occasional table and easy chair; and Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the combination configured as a bed. Referring now to the drawings it will be seen that the easy chair generally indicated at 10 comprises a back 11 and base 12. The back 11 is formed by a rectangular panel whilst the base 12 is formed by two superimposed rectangular panels 13 and 14 hingedly connected at their forward edges 15 by means of hinges 16. The lower base panel 13 is provided with downwardly projecting side frames 17 and 18 forming floor engaging legs whilst the upper base panel 14 is provided with upstanding side frames 19 and 20 forming arm-rests. The table is comprised by a rectangular panel 21 forming the top provided with downwardly projecting side frames 22 and 23 forming floor engaging legs. The frames 17, 18, 19, 20, 22 and 23 are all of equal height and conveniently formed by ciosed loops of tubular steel. In use, from the configuration shown in Fig. 1 the panel 14 may be swung over to bring the frames 19 and 20 into engagement with the floor to form an extended platform defined by the panels 13 and 14 in end to end relationship. This platform is augmented by juxtaposition of the table to form a support for a mattress or futon 25 to define a bed. The mattress or futon 25 can be used as upholstery for the chair 10 and folded as shown in Fig. 1 to have one thickness thereof overlying the back 11 of the chair and two thicknesses overlying the base 12 of the chair. Comfort of the chair may be improved by use of side cushions (not shown) to lie alongside the frames 19 and 20. It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible, without departing from the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims. Thus, for example, instead of a single occasional table, two, each of half size, and perhaps therefore more convenient, may be provided. Again, for example, the back 11 may be adjustable between a vertical and inclined position, when in the bed and chair configurations respectively. CLAIMS

1. A combination of at least one occasional table and an easy chair whose base is the same height as that of the table or tables and comprised by two superimposed elements hingedly connected at their forward edges, the lower element having floor engaging legs and the upper element having upstanding arm-rests whose height is equal to the height of said legs, whereby the upper element may be swung over to bring said arm-rests into engagement with the floor to provide an extended platform which may be augmented by the occasional table or tables to form a bed.

2. A combination according to claim 1 wherein said hingedly connected elements are each comprised by a rectangular panel.

3. A combination according to either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the easy chair has a back comprised by a rectangular panel.

4. A combination according to claim 3 wherein the angle of the back is adjustable.

5. A combination according to any preceding claim wherein the or each occasional table comprises a rectangular top panel with floor engaging legs at each of opposite sides thereof.

6. A combination according to any preceding claim wherein each floor engaging leg and each arm-rest is comprised by a frame member.

7. A combination according to claim 6 wherein each frame member is comprised by a closed loop of tubular steel.

8. A combination according to any preceding claim including a mattress of futon having a length equal to that of said extended platform.

9. A combination substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by the figures of the accompanying drawing.