GB2252903A

GB2252903A - Seat/bed assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2252903A
Application number: GB9119296A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Beard
Original assignee: RICHARD HOLDSWORTH CONVERSIONS
Current assignee: RICHARD HOLDSWORTH CONVERSIONS
Priority date: 1990-12-21
Filing date: 1991-09-10
Publication date: 1992-08-26
Anticipated expiration: 2011-09-10
Also published as: GB9027880D0; GB9119296D0; GB2252903B

Abstract

An assembly interconvertible between a seat and a bed, for a motor caravan or the like, has a first panel (3) slidable in a horizontal plane relative to a base (1) to form the base of a seat in its rear position and the front portion of a bed in its forward position. A second panel (4) is hinged, at (5), at its front edge to the rear edge of the first panel (3). A strut (6) is pivotally connected at (7) to the second panel (4) and at (8) to a fixed pivot on the base. A third panel (9) may be hinged at (10) to the rear or upper edge of the second panel (4) and rest at its rear edge on the strut (6). When the first panel is in its forward position, all three panels (3, 4, 9) lie in a horizontal plane whereas when the first panel is in its rear position, the second panel (4) is supported by the strut (6) to form a back for the seat. <IMAGE>

Description

FURNITURE The invention relates to an assembly which is interconvertible between a seat and a bed. The invention finds particular utility where space is limited, for example in caravans and motor caravans.

According to the invention there is provided an assembly interconvertible between a seat and bed, comprising a base, a first panel to form a seat base, a second panel to form a backrest for the seat and a strut for supporting the backrest in the seat forming mode, wherein the first panel is supported on the base but movable in the plane of the first panel between a rear position in which it forms the seat base and a forward position in which it forms a portion of the bed, the front edge of the second panel is hinged to the rear edge of the first panel and the strut is pivotally connected both to the underside of the second panel and to the base at spaced positions such that in the forward position of the first panel, the strut allows the second panel to lie on the base in the same plane as the first panel, whereas in the rear position of the first panel, the strut supports the second panel in the backrest forming position thereof.

Advantageously the first and second panels are hinged together at their side edges by hinges having a hinge axis above the top surface of the first and second panels.

The first panel may be mounted on a sliding frame captively slidable on the base.

The present invention will now be further described by way of example with reference to the drawings, in which: Figures 1 to 3 show diagrammatically side elevations of the interconvertible seat and bed in its seat-forming position in Fig.1, in a transitional position in Figure 2 and in a bed-forming position in Figure 3; Figure 4 shows in side elevation a modification of the rear portion of the interconvertible seat and bed; Figures 5 & 6 show side elevations of a modified inter-convertible seat and bed, in a seat-forming position in figure 5 and in a bed-forming position in figure 6; Figure 7 is a perspective view of the framework mechanism of the inter-convertible bed shown in fugures 5 & 6.

Figure 8 is a cross section on the line VIII-VIII of figure 7; and Figures 9 & 10 show portions IX and X of figure 7 on an enlarged scale.

The interconvertible seat and bed assembly shown in Figures 1 to 3 comprises a support base 1 which may form a storage space, for example by containing a drawer 2. A rectangular first panel 3 is supported on runners 2 in the base 1 and can slide horizontally in the plane of the first panel 3 between a rear position, in which it forms the seat base (Figure 1), and a forward position in which it forms a portion of the bed (Figure 3).

The front wall of the drawer has releasable engagement means (not shown) normally to maintain engagement between the first panel 3 and the top of the front wall of the drawer during movement of the first panel between its forward and rear positions. The releaseable engagement means comprise for example pegs which extend from the bottom face of the first panel and engage recesses in the top of the front face of the drawer, or the pegs may be on the top of the front wall of the drawer and the recesses in the bottom face of the first panel.

The rear edge of the first panel is hinged at 5 to the forward edge of a second panel 4 which forms a back rest 4 when the assembly is in its seat mode. The hinge 5 may be a piano hinge extending along the length of the adjacent edges of the first and second panels but as shown in the figures the hinges means comprises a pair of hinges located at opposite sides of the panels, these hinges having their hinge axis spaced above the first panel 3 and second panel 4 in the bed mode shown in Figure 3, so as to lie just below the surface of cushions 3A and 4A on the panels.

A strut 6 formed from tubing is pivotally connected both to the underside of the second panel 4 at pivot 7 and to the base at pivot 8. The position of pivot 8 allows the strut 6 to maintain the second panel in an inclined backrest position (Figure 1) but also allows the second panel to lie in the same plane as the seat base 3 when the structure is in the bed mode (Figure 3).

A third panel 9 is hinged at its front edge to the rear edge of the second panel by a piano hinge 10. This third panel 9 forms a further portion of the bed. A further fixed panel may extend behind the rear edge of the third panel in the bed mode (Figure 3) to increase the length of the bed.

In operation, when the drawer front and front panel are pulled forward (to the left in Figure 1), the assembly moves into the intermediate, transitional position shown in Figure 2. This movement of the seat base 3 causes both the second panel and the strut 6 to start to swing down towards the horizontal, while the second panel also moves forward.

The lower, rear edge of the third panel moves into sliding engagement with the strut or struts 6.

During movement of the first panel, the releasable engagement means maintain engagement between the seat base 3 and the top of the front wall of the drawer. On the bottom of the front wall of the drawer there are gliders 11, made for example of plastics materials, which ensure that the bottom of the front face of the drawer runs smoothly while supporting it on the floor. The mopvement of the seat base 3 towards its front position also causes the rear edge of the extension panel to come into slidable engagement with the strut 6 such that the latter guides the extension panel towards its bed position.

Further movement of the first panel towards its forward position allows the second panel 4 to drop automatically into the position shown in Figure 3, that is, where the second and third panels 4 and 9 both lie on the base 1 above the strut or struts 6 and in the same plane as the first panel 3. In the bed forming position (Figure 3) the first panel 3 can be raised about its hinge connection with the second panel as shown in figure 3 to provide access to the drawer 2 in the base. Access can also be gained to the drawer 2 when the assembly is in the seat position by lifting the seat panel 3 a sufficient amount to disengage the engagement means and to allow the drawer 2 to be pulled outwards from the base 1. In a modified arrangment shown in Figure 4 the strut pivots 16 are located on plates 17 on the outer faces of the base 1. The strut 12 is shaped such than in seat mode it abuts the underside of a stop 19, the latter being also positioned on the outer face of the side walls. The stop 19 counteracts the turning force of the strut 12, about pivots 16, when the interconvertible seat and bed is in use in the seat mode. The direction of movement of strut 12 is the same as that of the strut 6 when the seat is converted to the bed mode.

To return the assembly to the position shown in Figure 1, the rear portion of the second panel is initially lifted by hand (a strap may be provided for this purpose) and the front wall of the drawer is then pushed rearwardly through the position shown in Figure 2 to that in Figure 1.

In the modification shown in perspective in Figure 4, the struts 12 are again formed by portions of a length of tubing 12' which is pivotally secured to the second panel for example by pipe clips 13.

The tubing is extended beyond its pivotal connection to the base to form movement limiting arms 14 extending at an acute angle to the struts 12. A gusset plate 15 is welded to the bend in the tubing and is pivotally connected at 16 to a plate 17 fixed to the outer face of a side member 18 of the base. A projection 19 on the plate 17 forms a stop to limit upward swinging movement of the arm 14, thereby supporting the second panel in its seat back forming position.

The side members 18 support the panels in the bed-forming position and may be located inboard of the side edges of the panels to provide a clearance for a vehicle wheel arch.

The inter-convertible seat and bed assembly shown in figures 5 to 10 has a base formed of a fixed frame 51 on which is slidable a sliding frame 52 between a retracted position shown in figure 5 and an extended position shown in figure 6. As can be seen from figure 7, the fixed frame 51 has a rear wall 53 of sheet metal folded into a channel section with a deep vertical web 54 and top and bottom flanges 55 & 56. The corner between the vertical wall 54 and top flange 55 is reinforced by a length of angle iron 57 (figure 8) to provide seat belt anchorages for vehicle use. Sheet metal side panels 58 & 59 are secured to the two ends of the rear panel 53 and are joined at the front ends by upper and lower channel members 60 & 61. Each side panel 59 has a bottom flange 62 and top flanges 63.The fixed frame is secured to a floor or other supporting surfaces by bolts or screws passing through appropriate holes in the bottom flanges 56 & 64 and the channel member 61.

A seat-back supporting strut consists of a tube 66 extending over the whole width of the frame 51 and welded adjacent its ends to L-shaped tubular arms 67 to which are welded triangular gussets 68 pivoted at 69 to plates 70 secured to the side members 58. In the seat-forming position shown in figure 5, the shorter limbs 71 engage stocks formed by lugs 72 punched out of the plates 70. In the bed-forming position shown in figures 6 & 7, the tube 66 lies in notches 73 in the top walls 63 of the side panels 58. Secured to these top walls 63 are friction-reducing pads 74 of appropriate low friction plastics material on which are slidable side members 75 of the sliding frame 52.

The side members 75 are formed of downwardly facing channel section members having an extra flange 76 engaged around the underside of an interned flange 63a of the top wall 63. This arrangement prevents the sliding frame from being lifted relative to the fixed frame51.

The sliding frame 52 includes a transverse length of angle iron 77 welded to the rear end portions of the member 75. A further length of angle iron 78 is welded to the front ends of the member 75 and is secured by appropriate screws to the rear face of a front board 79 (figures 5 & 6) of a wooden drawer 80 supported by conventional telescopic guides or runners 81 secured to horizontal members 82 (figure 7) on the inner faces of the side walls 58. An L-section strip of plastics material 83 is secured to the lower edge of the rear face of the front board 79 to enable the latter to be moved freely over the floor.

As shown in figure 7, the length of the angle iron 77 may be greater than that of the fixed frame 51, particularly where the latter has to be installed adjacent a wheel arch in a vehicle. The projecting portion 77a of the angle iron 77 is then reinforced by an appropriate gusset plate 84 welded to it and to the side member 75.

To each end of the angle iron 77 is welded an upstanding post 85 to each of which are pivoted two hinge brackets 86 & 87 about a common pivot bolt 88. The brackets 86 are screwed to a first plywood panel 89 to which is secured a seat cushion 90. The brackets 87 are secured to the front edge of a second panel 91 to which is secured a seat-back forming cushion 92. The transverse tube 66 is pivotally secured to the underside of the panel 91 by pipe clips 93.

To obtain the full length necessary for a bed, a further plywood panel 94 is secured to a fixed structure 50 behind the fixed frame 51 and carries a main rear cushion 95 and a tilting cushion 96 which is hinged to the cushion 95 by a textile hinge 97 formed from the material covering the cushions.

In order to retain the assembly in the seat-forming position shown in figure 5, latch members 98 are secured to the underside of the panel 89 and have a front vertical stop portion 98a to engage the cross member 60 and a sloping portion 98b capable of riding up over the cross member 60 during movement from the bed-forming position of figure 6 to the seat-forming position of figure 5.

To assist in initial movement from the position shown in figure 6, an appropriate handle such as a loop 99 of flexible material is secured to the rear edge of the panel 91.

Claims

1. An assembly interconvertible between a seat and a bed, comprising a base, a first panel to form a seat base, a second panel to form a backrest for the seat and a strut for supporting the backrest in the seat forming mode, wherein the first panel is supported on the base but movable in the plane of the first panel between a rear position in which it forms the seat base and a forward position in which it forms a portion of the bed, the front edge of the second panel is hinged to the rear edge of the first panel and the strut is pivotally connected both to the second panel and to a fixed pivot at spaced-apart positions such that in the forward position of the first panel, the strut allows the second panel to lie on the base in the same plane as the first panel, whereas in the rear position of the first panel, the strut supports the second panel in the backrest-forming position thereof.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the front edge of the second panel is hinged to the rear edge of the first panel by a pair of hinges which are located at opposite sides of the panels and have their hinge axis spaced above the first and second panels when the assembly forms a bed.

3. An assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the front of the first panel has a downwardly extending floor-engaging support movable with the first panel.

4. An assembly according to claim 3, wherein the floor-engaging support forms the front of a drawer slidably supported in the base.

5. Aa assembly according to claim 4, wherein the front edge of the first panel has releasable engagement means normally to maintain engagement between the first panel and the top of the front face of the drawer as the first panel is moved between its forward and rear positions.

6. An assembly according to claim 5, wherein the first panel, when in the forward position to form a portion of the bed, can be raised about its hinge connection with the second panel to provide access to the drawer in the base.

7. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a third panel has its front edge hinged to the rear edge of the second panel and in the bed forming position, the upper surface of the strut is in sliding engagement with the third panel at the rear edge thereof.

8. An assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the strut is pivotally connected both to the second panel and the two opposite side walls of the base and wherein the ends of the strut are shaped to abut stops on the two opposite side walls of the base to support the second panel in its seat back forming position.

9. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first panel is secured to a sliding frame captively slidable on the base.

10. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the base includes a transverse channel member having reinforcing means to provide seat belt anchorages.

11. An assembly interconvertible between a seat and a bed, substantially as described with reference to any of the drawings.