GB2252038A

GB2252038A - "Folding seat/bed assemblies"

Info

Publication number: GB2252038A
Application number: GB9200793A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Leslie Calve Trevelyan
Original assignee: AUTO SLEEPERS Ltd
Current assignee: AUTO SLEEPERS Ltd
Priority date: 1991-01-15
Filing date: 1992-01-15
Publication date: 1992-07-29
Anticipated expiration: 2012-01-15
Also published as: GB9100802D0; GB2252038B; GB9200793D0

Abstract

A folding seat/bed assembly has a horizontal sliding or rolling leaf (5) which in the bed mode forms one end of the bed and which in the seat mode forms the level portion of a seat. Another leaf (8) hinged to it forms an adjacent portion of the bed when horizontal and the seat back-rest when hinged upright. The changeover motion is controlled by a swinging link 11 pivoted to the other leaf (8) about an axis above its hinge coupling to the first leaf (5) when both are aligned flat, and to a fixed point above or below the level of the first leaf. A horizontal push on the first leaf (5) can thereby shift the other leaf from its bed mode. The leaves can be augmented by further ones, fixed (13, 14) or hinged (9), to extend the bed or seat and to provide extra shelving. <IMAGE>

Description

"Improvements relations to Folding Seat/Bed Assemblies" This invention relates to folding seat/bed assemblies, primarily for caravans or motor caravans, although it could have applications elsewhere, such as in boats.

Space is at a premium in caravans and it is standard practice to convert a seat into a bed and vice versa. Often, this means tricky juggling with boards and cushions in awkward and confined spaces. It is the aim of this invention to provide an assembly where the transition can be made easily and simply.

According to the present invention there is provided a folding seat/bed assembly comprising a base and a hinged structure carried by the base and capable of being adjusted between an aligned flat bed position and an angled seat position, the structure having a first, horizontal leaf in sliding or rolling engagement with the top of the base, a second leaf hinged to an edge of the first leaf transverse to the direction of sliding or rolling movement, an arm pivoted at one end to a fixed point and at the other to the second leaf at a point above the hinge axis between the leaves to cause the second leaf to swing between an upright, seat mode position and a flat, bed mode position as the first leaf is moved horizontally, and means for securing the structure when the second leaf is in said seat mode position.

Thus, to convert from a seat to a bed, the securing means is released and the first leaf is slid horizontally drawing down the second leaf from its back rest position under the guidance of the arm until that second leaf is also horizontal. For the reverse operation, the first leaf simply has to be pushed horizontally; the arm will automatically cause the second leaf to swing upwards into a back-rest attitude, and the securing means may be a catch that engages automatically when the seat mode position is attained.

Preferably, there are two said arms, one on each side of the assembly, and the fixed point to which the or each arm is pivoted may be below or above said first leaf.

The two leaves may not in themselves be of sufficient size to produce an adequate length bed. This may be completed by the leaves aligning with a permanent flat support located beyond the second leaf when the structure is in said bed mode.

There may also be provided a third leaf hinged to the second one at an opposite edge to the one to which the first leaf is hinged to provide a further horizontal section in the bed mode. This third leaf may hang down behind the second leaf in the seat mode, while as the transition is made it continues to hang vertically until its lower edge engages an obstruction whereupon it is forced to swing about the horizontal until finally it is flat with the second leaf and forming an extension of it.

Instead of concealing this third leaf in the seat mode, means may be provided for supporting it as an upward extension of the second leaf in the seat mode. It would then form a headrest, for example. It could be held firm by catches which would be released when the conversion had to be made.

There may also be provided a shelf with a forward edge arranged to be abutted by or adjacent to the rear side of the second leaf in the seat mode. In the bed mode, there will be room under the shelf for the user.

For a better understanding of the invention, some embodiments will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a seat/bed assembly in its seat mode, Figure 2 is a front view of that assembly in the seat mode, Figure 3 is a perspective view, from the front and above, of the assembly with some parts removed and others in ghost, Figure 4 shows stages in the conversion of the assembly from a seat to a bed, Figure 5 is a diagrammatic side elevation of an alternative seat/bed assembly, and Figure 6 is a rear elevation of the assembly of Figure 5.

In Figures 1, 4 and 5 the front of the seat is to the left hand side.

The seat/bed assembly of Figures 1 to 4 has a fixed box-like base 1. This is set slightly apart from another structure 2 which on its adjacent side carries a rail 3 level with the top of the base 1 and extending substantially beyond the front of the latter. The top of the base 1 has two tracks 4 parallel to the rail 3, carrying a rectangular board 5 by means of slides 6 on its underside which run in the tracks 4. These slides 6 extend for a substantial distance beyond the rear edge of the board 5.

At the front end, the board 5 has a leg 7 near the corner remote from the structure 2. As best seen in Figure 3, this leg 7 is part of a welded square-section tube assembly which reinforces and supports the front portion of the board 5.

At the rear end, a second board 8 is hinged to the first board 5 so that it can pivot about an axis transverse to the tracks 4. A third board 9 is hinged to the opposite parallel edge.

On either side of the board 8, near this second hinge, there are brackets 10 to which are pivoted arms 11.

The brackets 10 project forwardly/upwardly so that the pivot points are above the board 8 when that is horizontal. The arms 11 extend down in parallel on either side and their lower ends are pivoted to brackets 12 fixed to the floor.

Level with the board 5 and fixed to the surrounding structure there is a fourth board 13, and above that there is a shelf 14 whose front edge can be engaged by the board 9 when the assembly is in the seat mode.

This mode is shown in Figure 1, where the board 8 is upright, but inclining slightly back towards the shelf 14 and where the board 5 is entirely over the base 1. There will be means (not shown) for holding it in this position; it may be a simple catch or bolt easily accessible on the side of the base 1.

When these securing means are released the board 5 can be slid forwards horizontally on the tracks 4, as shown in Figure 4(a). As it moves partially clear of the base 1 it is supported by the leg 7 and the rail 3. As this movement progresses, the board 8 hinges towards the horizontal, being controlled in this movement by the arms 11. At first, the board 9 hangs vertically, but when its lower edge meets the base 1 it too is forced to angle towards the horizontal as shown in Figure 4(b), until finally all the boards are horizontal and flush with the board 13, as shown in Figure 4(c).

To revert to the seat mode, the board 5 simply has to be pushed back towards the base 1 and the other boards will rise in reverse manner. As can be seen in Figure 4(c), there is a small gap between the rear edge of the board 9 and the forward edge of the board 13 so that at the start of this operation the boards are not all locked in alignment.

The slight horizontal movement allows the arms 11 to raise the board 8 slightly and "break" that alignment.

It will be understood that the boards will generally be cushioned, but these are not shown for simplicity.

In Figures 5 and 6, equivalent parts are given the same numbers. However, in this case the arms 11 are not coupled to floor brackets but to points 15 above the base 1.

They still exert control of the board 8 as that is raised and lowered.

Also, the board 9 can be held aligned with the board 8 in the seat mode, for example to provide a headrest.

This is done by pivoted finger 16 and catches 17 on the reverse sides of the boards 8 and 9.

Finally, a hinged flap 18 is provided at the forward edge of the board 13 to provide a bridge to the board 9 in the bed mode, and to make the bed even longer.

In the seat mode it is hinged up out of the way as shown.

It will be understood that where there is no appropriate structure 2 to carry the rail 3, there may be two legs 7, one at each forward corner of the board 5, and possibly a further pair of legs at the rear corners.

Claims

1. A folding seat/bed assembly comprising a base and a hinged structure carried by the base and capable of being adjusted between an aligned flat bed position and an angled seat position, the structure having a first, horizontal leaf in sliding or rolling engagement with the top of the base, a second leaf hinged to an edge of the first leaf transverse to the direction of sliding or rolling movement, an arm pivoted at one end to a fixed point and at the other end to the second leaf at a point above the hinge axis between the leaves to cause the second leaf to swing between an upright, seat mode position and a flat, bed mode position as the first leaf is moved horizontally, and means for securing the structure when the second leaf is in said seat mode position.

2. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein there are two said arms one on each side of the assembly.

3. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the fixed point to which the or each arm is pivoted is below said first leaf.

4. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the fixed point to which the or each arm is pivoted is above said first edge.

5. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said leaves align in the horizontal position with a permanent flat support located beyond the second leaf from the first leaf when the structure is in said bed mode.

6. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a third leaf is hinged to the second leaf at an opposite edge to the one to which the first leaf is hinged to provide a further horizontal section in the bed mode.

7. An assembly as claimed in Claim 6, wherein means are provided for supporting the third leaf as an upward extension of the second leaf in the seat mode.