GB2260264A - Folding seat/bed assemblies - Google Patents

Abstract

A folding seat/bed assembly has two principal leaves (3, 6) hinged together, the hinge axis being transverse to the seat or bed. The first leaf (3) is movable in its own horizontal plane lengthwise of the bed while the second leaf (6) swings between a horizontal position aligned with the first leaf (for the bed mode) and an upright position forming a back rest (for the seat mode). The second leaf (6) is guided in this movement by lateral projections (13) remote from the hinge axis cooperating with curved grooves or tracks (10). A third leaf (7) may be hinged to the opposite edge of the second leaf (6) from the first leaf (3) and be similarly guided by projections (14) and grooves or tracks (11) to contribute to the length of the bed. This third leaf (7) may be redundant in the seat mode or swung up to add to the height of the back rest. There are means for securing the structure in the seat mode. <IMAGE>

Description

"Improvements relating 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.

British Patent No. 993219 describes a settee convertible into a bed in which the seat and back are mutually hinged and in which the seat is slid horizontally for the conversion. When the back swings down from an upright to a horizontal position, it is guided by runners at each side travelling in a curved track. However, these runners are close to the hinge axis so that the centre of gravity of the back is well beyond them in relation to the hinge. This means that it is virtually impossible to accomplish the reverse conversion (from bed to settee) simply by pushing the seat horizontally. The leverage exerted by the back would be too great. The back will therefore have to be lifted, at least initially, at the same time as the horizontal movement is started.This may not be very difficult with a free standing piece of furniture, as in the earlier Patent, but with the restricted access usually afforded by a caravan or boat, it might be virtually impossible.

It is the aim of this invention to provide an assembly where the conversion both ways can be made easily in one simple movement.

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, guide means in the form of a groove or track laterally of the second leaf and a projection on the second leaf co-operating with the groove or track to cause the latter to swing between an upright and a flat position as the first leaf is moved horizontally, the projection being substantially beyond the centre of gravity of the second leaf in relation to the hinge, and means for securing the structure when the second leaf is in said upright 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 control of the guide means until that second leaf is also horizontal.

Preferably, the seat/bed mechanism will have corresponding projections on both sides of the second leaf and two spaced, parallel side panels with the grooves or tracks formed in or on both of their opposing faces.

The two leaves may not in themselves be of sufficient size to produce an adequate length bed. This may be completed by a third leaf hinged to the second one along the opposite edge to the one to which the first leaf is hinged. This third leaf may hang down behind the second leaf in the seat mode, while as the transition is made it may be guided by its own projection(s) and track(s) so that it is forced to swing about the horizontal until finally it is flat with the second leaf and forming an extension of it.

Conveniently, the third leaf can be disengaged from its guide means and be hinged up, in the seat mode, and secured in alignment with the second leaf, thus heightening the back rest portion of the seat. The third leaf guide means will preferably be similar to those of the second leaf.

Even this third leaf may not be sufficient for a full length bed, but the solution to that could lie in a fourth leaf fixed in the same horizontal plane as the first leaf. When all the leaves are flat, the previously free edge of the third leaf may virtually abut it, or it may be at the other end and the first leaf's movement may bring that into abutment.

For a better understanding of the invention, one embodiment will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a set of diagrammatic side elevations of a seat/bed assembly showing stages in the conversion of the assembly from a seat to a bed, Figure 2 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a guide system for the seat/bed assembly, and Figure 3 is a perspective view of the assembly.

In Figure 1 the front of the seat is to the left hand side. It has a fixed box-like base 1 whose top has two horizontal, parallel tracks 2 (only one of which is visible) extending in the fore and aft direction of the seat. They carry a rectangular board 3 by means of slides 4 which run in the tracks 2. At the front end corners, the board 3 has legs 5 to support it, when extended, from the floor. If the assembly is adjacent a wall, one leg might be replaced with a wall fitting, such as a rail, on which the side of the board runs. At the rear end, a second board 6 is hinged to the first board 3 so that it can pivot above and down to the horizontal plane about an axis transverse to the tracks 2.

A third board 7 is hinged in the contrary manner to the opposite parallel edge. Level with the horizontal board 3 and fixed to the surrounding structure there is a fourth board 8, providing a final section of the bed, but contributing nothing to the seat.

The seat mode is shown in Figure l(a), where the second board 6 is upright, but inclining slightly back so that the third board 7 hangs over the fixed board 8. The board 3 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.

On either side of the base 1, there are two upstanding parallel panels 9 between which the boards 3, 6 and 7 can move. On their inner faces, the panels have mirror image tracks 10 and 11 inclining down and forwardly and then curving to merge in a short almost horizontal section 12. On either side, remote from the board 3 and near the edge hinged to the board 7, the board 6 has laterally projecting studs 13 which engage in the tracks 10, while near its free edge the board 7 has similar studs 14 which engage in the tracks 11.

There may be circumstances when one of the panels 9 is inconvenient. The guide system would still work with tracks 10 and 11 on one side only, but with somewhat less security.

When the securing means are released the board 3 can be slid forwards horizontally on the tracks 2, as shown in Figure l(b). As it moves partially clear of the base 1 it is supported by the legs 5. As this movement progresses, the board 6 hinges towards the horizontal, being controlled in this movement by the lateral studs 13 in the guide tracks 10. At first, the board 7 hangs vertically, but when its lateral studs 14 arrive at the sharp angle in the track 11 it too is forced to angle towards the horizontal as shown in Figure l(c), until finally all the boards are horizontally aligned and flush with the board 8, which is abutted (or nearly so) by the board 7.

To revert to the seat mode, the board 3 simply has to be pushed back towards the base 1 and the other boards will rise in reverse manner. The upward kink in the lower section of the track 11 serves to raise the board 7 to clear the fixed board 8, and to give it scope to do this it is advisable to have a small gap (not shown) between the adjacent edges of the boards 7 and 8 in the bed mode. When the lateral studs 13 meet the sharp angle in the track 10, the board 7 is arrested and this helps "break" the alignment of the boards 6 and 7. The distance of the studs 13 from the hinge axis between the boards 3 and 6, well beyond the centre of gravity of the board 6 from that axis, gives favourable leverage and means that no great effort is required to achieve the initial lift of the board 6. As it assumes a more upright position, of course, the horizontal back thrust diminishes. Folding thus continues as the board 3 is pushed horizontally, until the seat configuration is achieved.

The studs 14 may be releasable from the tracks 11: as seen in Figure 5, they could be accessible over the back of the seat. In that case, the board 7 might be hinged up in the seat mode to be aligned with the board 6, thus increasing the height of the back rest. It could be secured by various means, perhaps using the studs 14 to engage in sockets in upwardly extended panels 9.

Claims (9)

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, guide means in the form of a groove or track laterally of the second leaf and a projection on the second leaf cooperating with the groove or track to cause the latter to swing between an upright and a flat position as the first leaf is moved horizontally, the projection being substantially beyond the centre of gravity of the second leaf in relation to the hinge, and means for securing the structure when the second leaf is in said upright position.

2. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein there are corresponding projections on both sides of the second leaf and two spaced, parallel side panels with the grooves or tracks formed in or on both their opposing faces.

3. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1, or 2, wherein a third leaf is hinged to the second one along the opposite edge to the one to which the first leaf is hinged and is supported in a horizontal position to contribute to the bed.

4. An assembly as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said third leaf is arranged to hang down behind the second leaf in the seat mode, while as the transition to the bed mode is made it is guided by its own guide means so that it is forced to swing about the horizontal until finally it is flat with the second leaf and forming an extension of it.

5. An assembly as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said third leaf can be disengaged from its guide means and be hinged up, in the seat mode, and secured in alignment with the second leaf.

6. An assembly as claimed in Claim 4 or 5, wherein the third leaf guide means are similar to those of the second leaf.

7. An assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 6, wherein a fourth leaf is fixed in the same horizontal plane as the first leaf, the arrangement being such that, when all the leaves are flat, the previously free edge of the third leaf substantially abuts the fourth leaf.

8. An assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 6, wherein a fourth leaf is fixed in the same horizontal plane as the first leaf, the arrangement being such that, when all the leaves are flat the free edge of the first leaf substantially abuts the fourth leaf.

9. A folding seat/bed assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.