JPS599167B2 - convertible sofa bed - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a convertible sofa bed, and more particularly to a convertible sofa bed in which the sofa frame is independent of the sofa bed mechanism.

In recent years, convertible sofa beds have become more common in the United States, especially in urban areas where housing and apartment space is limited, so sofas and chairs can be used for both living and sleeping purposes. It must be usable.

Of course, sofas and beds of various constructions are now available on the commercial market.

Convertible sofa beds that have been proposed so far are characterized by a sofa bed mechanism consisting of a collapsible metal frame that can be folded and unfolded between a folded position and an extended position.

Of course, in the folded position, the foldable metal frame is accommodated within the confines of the sofa and covered by the sofa's seat cushion.

That is, the wooden frame that forms the exterior surface of the sofa and is upholstered by the manufacturer is generally attached directly to a metal folding frame to form one unit.

Although such sofas as proposed so far are generally satisfactory, they present various problems, particularly for manufacturers.

In particular, because the metal sofa mechanism is attached directly to the sofa frame, the overall convertible sofa bed is relatively heavy and bulky.

This, of course, creates transportation problems and increases costs.

Additionally, when the sofa bed owner needs to reupholster the sofa, since the sofa mechanism is attached directly to the sofa frame, the sofa and the entire sofa bed mechanism can be returned to the manufacturer for reupholstery. is necessary.

As a result, we had to send the sofa bed mechanism along with the sofa to the manufacturer for reupholstery work.
The owner of the sofa does not have at hand a sofa bed mechanism for sleeping.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a sofa bed arrangement which solves the above problems and which is comfortable and easy to use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a convertible sofa bed in which the sofa frame can be readily separated from the bed mechanism.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a convertible sofa that is relatively easy to transport and manufacture and is simple to assemble.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a convertible sofa that allows the manufacturer to transport the components of the convertible sofa bed in parts and allows the purchaser to conveniently assemble it at home. That's true.

In view of the present invention, the convertible sofa bed described herein includes a separate, enclosed base frame with a device for supporting the base on the floor.

A conventional sofa bed folding mechanism is removably attached to an encircling base frame and an upholstered frame to receive the sofa mechanism therein, but from an attachment that attaches to the sofa bed mechanism. Not independent.

The surround-shaped base frame has a generally horizontally extending surround-shaped support surface along its outer edge, and the sofa frame includes an interior support frame that is generally in complementary relationship with the base frame. The sofa frame is supported on the base frame and has a bottom edge adapted to sit in an overlapping relationship on the support surface of the base frame.

As a result, the sofa frame can be removed from the base frame independently of the sofa arrangement, so that the sofa frame can be transported separately from the sofa arrangement.

Therefore, shipping costs are reduced for the manufacturer, and shipping in this manner also reduces problems.

Additionally, the owner can remove the sofa frame and reupholster it or clean up scratches if desired from time to time without having to return the sofa assembly together with the sofa frame to the manufacturer.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

By first referring in detail to FIG. 1, it can be seen that the convertible sofa bed of the present invention comprises a base frame 12, a sofa bed folding mechanism 14, and a decorative sofa frame 16.

The upholstered sofa frame 16 consists of a hollow upholstered backrest 18, an arm 20 and a removable seat cushion 22 (shown in dashed lines for clarity).

The sofa frame 16 generally has a central elongated opening 24.
form.

The sofa bed mechanism is received in this opening and below the individual level of the seat cushion 22.

The opening 24 is bounded by a rectangular support frame 26 along the bottom of the frame 16.

The support frame may be made of wood, metal, etc., and surrounds the sofa bed mechanism 14 when it is folded as shown in FIG.

Frame 26 is used to support sofa frame 16 on base 12 independently of mechanism 14, as will be explained later.

The sofa bed folding mechanism 14 is of conventional construction and has been used in particular by the Castro Convertible Company (Cas) for many years.
tro Convertible Corporation
Although other sofa bed folding mechanisms may be used with the present invention, such as those sold by Amazon.com.

The mechanism shown is U.S. Pat.
No. 3,284,812, there is no need to discuss it in detail here.

Essentially, however, the folding mechanism supports the cushion mattress 28 in the folded configuration shown in FIG. 1 when folded.

As can be seen in this figure, the mattress is generally L-shaped when folded, with the vertical portion 30 of the mattress being received within the hollow backrest 18 of the sofa frame 16 and the folded horizontal portion 32 of the mattress being received within the opening 24 of the frame 16.
It is placed under the cushion 22 inside.

When the sofa is in the folded position, the horizontal portion 32 of the mattress forms a seating surface for the cushion 22.

The arrangement of the sofa folding mechanism within the frame is shown in greater detail in the above-mentioned US Pat. No. 3,654,642.

Base frame 12 comprises an enclosure frame formed of generally L-shaped metal frame members 34-40.

Each frame member has a horizontally outwardly extending flange portion 42 and a vertical flange portion 44.

These flanges cooperate with the support frame 26 of the sofa 16 to accurately position and support the sofa on the base frame 12, independent of the folding mechanism 14.

Folding mechanism 14 is supported on base frame 12 by pairs of plates 46 secured to vertical flanges 44 of side frame members 34,38.

The sofa mechanism 14 is fixed by a plurality of bolts or screws 48, etc.
one of the frame members is secured to the plate 46.

In the illustrated embodiment, the L-shaped bar 50 of the sofa mechanism is secured at its end to the plate 46 in order to support the sofa mechanism 14 in the soil of the base frame 12.

For example, in previously proposed structures currently on the market, the support bar 50 is made of a wooden sofa frame 16.
It is directly attached to the sofa frame 16 so as to be integrated with the sofa frame 16.

For example, this
It is shown in No. 2.

It will be appreciated that, with the construction according to the invention, the sofa frame 16 is entirely independent of the sofa mechanism.

In addition, by referring in particular to FIG. 1, the sofa mechanism 1
4 on the base frame 12 via the plate 46, and the bottom edge 52 of the sofa support frame 26 (see FIG. 3).
can be engaged with the horizontal upward facing surface of the base frame flange 42 to allow the sofa frame 16 to be placed over the folded sofa structure 14.

Therefore, the sofa frame is independent of the bed folding mechanism, although the sofa mechanism 14 is received within the sofa frame in a conventional manner in order to be concealed by the sofa frame.

Preferably, the interior dimensions of the sofa support frame 26 are substantially equal to the exterior dimensions of the rectangle formed by the vertically extending flanges 44 of the frame 12.

By doing so, these vertically extending flanges cooperate with the inner surface of the support frame 26 in a male-to-female relationship so that the sofa frame 16 is precisely positioned on the base frame 12 during assembly.

Furthermore, once the bottom edge 52 of the support frame 26 is connected to the base frame 1
2, the flange 44 does not allow the sofa frame to move in any horizontal direction.

If desired, the support frame 26 can be attached to the frame 1 by extending a bow or bottle 54 or the like into the wooden support frame 26 through a hole (not shown) in the flange 42.
2 can be detachably attached.

Once the convertible sofa bed is assembled in this manner, the sofa mechanism can be manipulated in a conventional manner to extend the mattress 28 through the opening 24 in the sofa frame 16 to form a flat sleeping surface.

The assembled configuration of convertible sofa 10 is shown in greater detail in FIG.

Here, the support frame 26 of the sofa is connected to the frame 12.
It can be seen that it rests on an outwardly extending flange 42.

In FIG. 2, only the forward portion 26A of the frame 26 is visible, the remainder being shown broken away to illustrate the connection between the bracket 50 and the plate 46 of the frame 12.

However, it is understood that the bed folding mechanism 14 can be expanded within the sofa frame 16 of the present invention to the shape shown in FIG. 2 by unfolding it in a conventional manner, such as that disclosed in the aforementioned patents. will be done.

It will be appreciated that the sofa mechanism includes a pair of counterbalance springs 56 of conventional construction interconnecting several points of the folding mechanism to balance the weight of the mechanism and the mattress during folding and unfolding operations.

Thus, it will be appreciated that, if desired, the sofa bed mechanism of the present invention allows the upholstered sofa frame 16 to be removed from the base frame 12 without removing the folding mechanism 14 from its attachment to the base 12.

Thus, if the sofa frame needs to be reupholstered or scratches cleaned, the manufacturer can immediately disassemble the sofa frame 16 from the base frame 12 (e.g., by removing bolts 54) and reinstall the sofa frame. It can be transported to a decoration factory.

The sofa mechanism 14 thus remains on the base 12, so that the home owner can continue using it to create a bed or sleeping surface.

When the reupholstery work is completed, the reupholstered frame is simply installed again on the base frame 12 and fixed there.

The structure of the present invention also provides convenience to manufacturers because the sofa frame can be manufactured at a different location than the metal bed folding mechanism.

The structure described so far requires transporting the bed folding mechanism to a factory that manufactures and attaches the mechanism to the sofa frame, and then the completed assembly is later shipped to the consumer. transportation to a storage area or warehouse for storage.

The structure of the present invention allows the upholstered sofa frame 16 to
It can be transported separately from the folding mechanism 14 from the manufacturing plant to the warehouse, while the folding mechanism 14 can be attached to the base frame 12 at the time of manufacture and then transported to the warehouse separately from the sofa frame.

Once the sofa frame and folding mechanism are in the warehouse, the manufacturer or dealer can easily assemble the sofa frame and folding mechanism support frame, or the consumer can assemble it himself at home.

Of course, it would be convenient if the sofa frame and folding mechanism could be roughly assembled at the consumer's home, as it would be easier for the dealer to load the sofa in two parts, which would be lighter than a fully assembled sofa. be.

As a result, it can be seen that the device of the present invention makes it more convenient for the consumer to use a convertible sofa bed and reduces the inconvenience the consumer experiences when it becomes necessary to reupholster the sofa. .

Additionally, manufacturing and shipping costs are substantially reduced for convertible sofa bed manufacturers.

Although embodiments of the invention have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, the invention is not to be limited to exact embodiments thereof, and is intended to be understood by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the components of the convertible sofa bed of the present invention. Figure 2 shows the unfolded position of the sofa bed in Figure 1;
It is a perspective view with several parts broken. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 1. 10...Convertible sofa bed, 1
2...Foundation frame, 14...Sofa bed mechanism, 16...Upholstered sofa frame, 24...Rectangular opening, 26... Support frame, 54... bolts.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 a separate enclosure-shaped base frame that is generally rectangular in plan and has an enclosure-shaped outwardly extending horizontal support surface formed on an upper surface; a sofa bed folding mechanism mounted on said base frame; and said sofa bed; a separate upholstered sofa frame removably mounted on the base frame independently of the bed folding mechanism, the sofa frame having a generally rectangular support frame therein; an enclosing bottom surface in complementary relationship with the base frame and engaged with and supported on the horizontal support surface, whereby the sofa frame operates the sofa bed folding mechanism; The sofa bed folding mechanism is removable from the base frame while remaining on the base frame for access, and the sofa bed folding mechanism has the outwardly extending horizontal support surface exposed undisturbed for engagement with the support frame. A convertible sofa bed, characterized in that the convertible sofa bed is substantially completely folded within the confines of the base frame so as to remain flat.