MXPA00008842A - Sleeper sofa with an air mattress - Google Patents

Abstract

A sleeper sofa (10) incorporating an air mattress (40) including a telescoping mattress frame for supporting a mattress support subassembly consisting of hinge panels (31). The hinges (150) used to connect the panels limit the range of motion of adjacent panels (31) to plus or minus 90°from a coplanar arrangement. The panel (34) that defines the seating surface may be supported in the seating position by a pair of side rails (39a, 39b) that lack significant structure in the seating plane. This panel (34) may also include a set of sinuous springs (136) clad in padding. The air mattress (40) used in the sleeper sofa can be a multi-chamber design in which the outer edges (43a, 43b) are inflated to a higher pressure to prevent the user from rolling off the edge. The mattress may also include a longitudinal divider portion (49) inflated to a higher pressure, between individually pressure controlled sleeping portions (45a, 45b) to prevent one user from rolling from a high pressure sleeping area to an adjacent low pressure sleeping area. The mattress may also include a cover (51) with internally attached elastomeric straps used to assist mattress deflation in specific areas of the mattress such as the foot end.

Description

SOFA TO SLEEP WITH AIR MAT A. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a sleeping sofa using an air mattress instead of a conventional spring mattress and various sofa assemblies and sub-assemblies.

B. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION More and more people are replacing their conventional spring mattresses with air mattresses. The increase in public acceptance of air mattresses is partly due to your superior sleeping comfort. Conventional air mattresses have a flexible body surrounding at least one air chamber that is inflated with an air pump. Once inflated, the air chamber is hermetically sealed under pressure, by closing a valve inside a portal in the chamber. Said inflated mattress generally has two opposite flat surfaces and the user sleeps on the upper surface. To deflate the mattress, the user releases the air from the chamber to collapse the mattress, so that it is folded for storage. Typically, the user can gradually deflate the mattress to adjust the firmness of the mattress to achieve the desired comfort.

In contrast to a comfortable air mattress, the most rejected sleeping surface is a pull-out sleeping sofa, whose use nonetheless; It is widespread. Commercially available sleeping sofas have a folded mattress inside a sofa sub-assembly to sleep on when the sleeping couch is in the collapsed position. Despite the lack of comfort, the convertible sleeping sofa arrangements are popular because they provide a bed for the guests and when they are not in use, they are folded to provide, with the help of cushions, a seating surface. They do two functions at once.

Conventional sleeping sofas are uncomfortable due to their small size and the poor support provided by the mattress support sub-assemblies. Since the mattress on a conventional sleeping couch is folded into the sofa, it must be substantially thinner and therefore less comfortable than a double-sized bed mattress. The mattress can not be as perfectly padded as the mattress of a conventional bed and steel springs can not provide the same firmness and support as the mattress of a conventional bed.

Said sleeping sofa mattress, thin, unsupported and filled with balls is manufactured even in a less comfortable manner by a very light and uneven support sub-assembly. Typical support sub-assemblies include a wire mesh supported through an open structure (or a spring-supported polymeric fabric called a trampoline) and held by bar hinges that extend just below the wire mesh or trampoline. Everyone who has slept on a conventional sleeping couch knows that it is uncomfortable because it uses a thin mattress, flaccid and full of balls; poorly supported on a wire mesh covered on several hinges connected to bars and a metal support structure of a mattress, all felt through the mattress.

The commercially available sleeping sofas can not accommodate a full-thickness mattress, because they are bulky and heavy due to the complex folding structure of the mattress. To extend the mattress structure from the sofa position to the open bed position, it often requires a physical strength beyond the abilities of a person due to advanced age or diseases. People who can bend and unfold the structure often hurt their fingers and shins. Therefore, there is a need for an improved sleep sofa that is at least as comfortable as a conventional bed and easy to extend and retract.

II. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The sleeping sofa and the sub-assemblies in accordance with the present invention drastically improve the usability and comfort of conventional sleeping sofas. The sleeping sofa of the present invention combines the comfort of an air mattress with the practical benefits of a sleeping sofa, but with a mattress structure that is much easier to unfold and store on the couch. In one aspect of the invention, the designed mattress structure accommodates an air mattress as the sleeping surface by, for example, expanding and collapsing folded (instead of folding) the structure outside and inside the body of the sofa. Because the structure of the mattress moves foldably, the user does not need to lift any part of the mattress structure to unfold it from or store it on the sofa. To provide sufficient support for the mattress 40, preferably, a series of solid supports (instead of the wire mesh or trampoline used in conventional sleeping sofas) sits on top of the mattress structure of the present invention. Automatically, the user can inflate the mattress with an air injector capable of gradually adjusting the pressure inside the mattress and therefore, its firmness and comfort. To accelerate deflation of the mattress, the user preferably uses a reversible motor. The pneumatic equipment can be packaged in a separate portable unit, with a battery power source or manufactured inside the sofa to sleep.

In this document several different embodiments of the sleeping sofa of the invention and its sub-assemblies are described. Two general types of sleep assemblies are described, a style of box or folded support and a serpentine style, with illustrative variations of each type. To facilitate its installation in a sofa structure close to the conventional, the box-style sleeping assembly can be manufactured as a "descent" module. The sleeping sofa of the invention may also include an automated mechanism for extending and retracting the mattress structure, for example, a folding system or a push-fold chain system. Another aspect of the invention includes a "bander", which deflates the mattress 40 as it is retracted into the body of the sofa, when the structure of the mattress is retracted.

The invention also includes other aspects, such as a mattress retro-arrangement system in which the owner of a sleeping sofa installs an air mattress on the sofa with its trampoline and its wire mesh structure. Another aspect of the invention is an inflatable mattress cover of a conventional mattress, in which the cover revitalizes and changes the old mattress into a comfortable sleeping surface, regardless of the condition of its springs. Another embodiment of the invention consists of an improved air cushion by providing a separately inflated chamber located along at least a portion of the outer edge of the mattress body that minimizes the "rolling" nature of the edge of the mattresses of the mattress. conventional air and at the same time allows the mattress to fold easily to a sofa to sleep.

The above general description and the detailed description below do not restrict the scope of the invention and are only cited for illustrative purposes. The accompanying drawings are incorporated as part of the description and illustrate several embodiments of the invention in conjunction with it and serve to explain the principles of the invention. lll. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a sleeping sofa embodiment according to the invention shown in its sofa mode.

FIG. 1 B is a perspective view of the sleeping couch shown in FIG. 1A, but with the seat cushions removed to expose the bed mechanism fully retracted.

FIG. 1 C is a perspective view of the sleeping couch shown in FIG. 1A, but with the seat cushions removed to expose the fully folded mattress and support system and a fully expanded mattress structure.

FIG. 1 D is a perspective view of the sleeping couch shown in FIG. 1A, but with the seat cushions removed to expose the fully unfolded mattress on a five-panel extended form of a mattress support sub-assembly.

FIG: 1 E is a perspective view of the sleeping couch shown in FIG. 1A, in a sleeping position with the seat cushions removed to expose the fully unfolded and inflated mattress supported on a five-panel extended form of a mattress support sub-assembly.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a mattress structure and a pneumatic system according to the invention, placed inside a sleeping couch.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an assembly of a sleeping sofa and a pneumatic system with a four-panel embodiment of a mattress support sub-assembly shown in a sleeping position on the mattress structure.

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional side view of the embodiment of a five-panel mattress support sub-assembly, but in the retracted seat position.

FIG. 4B is a perspective view of a hinge assembly used to connect the support panels shown in FIGS. 4A.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of a first version of a coil embodiment of the present invention shown in the seating position.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the components of a second version of the coil mode shown in the sleeping position.

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of a modality of a pneumatic system suitable for use in the sleeping couch according to the invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a panel used as a seat suspension member for supporting the seat cushions when a sleeping sofa according to the invention is in a sitting position.

FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a mattress in accordance with the invention having a single chamber and optional baffles.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a modality of a multi-chamber mattress according to the invention in which a first chamber, which is shown in dashed lines, reveals how it is supported on three sides and its Lower part by a second chamber.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a mattress in accordance with the invention, having an interior chamber along with optional baffles.

FIG. 11A is a cross-sectional view taken along line 11A-11A of the mattress shown in FIG. eleven.

FIG. 11 B is a cross-sectional view of a mattress similar to the mattress of FIGS. 11 and 11 A, but with a division chamber located near the longitudinal center line of the mattress that divides the mattress into three chambers.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a mattress similar to the mattress of the FIGS. 1 1 and 11 A, but with a third type of camera located along the side edges of the internal chambers.

FIG. 12A is a partial cross-sectional view of a side portion of a mattress embodiment similar to that shown in FIG. 12, in which a hook and clamp securing system is used to allow the two types of chambers in the mattress to be selectively fixed and separated from one another.

FIG. 12B is a partial cross-sectional view of a side portion of another embodiment of the mattress similar to that shown in FIG. 12, in which a permanent method is used to connect the two types of chambers in the mattress to one another.

FIG. 12C is a partial cross-sectional view of a side portion of another embodiment of the mattress similar to that shown in FIG.12, in which the two types of chambers in the mattress share a common wall.

FIGS. 13A and 13B are elevational views of any of the mattresses shown in FIGS.11-11 in the deflated and inflated states, respectively.

FIG. 14 is a top plan view, partly schematic, of a pulley system of automated means for moving the sofa to sleep between the sleeping and seating positions.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of a sleeping sofa embodiment having a system for retracting the automated mattress structure, taken through a flat cut of the sofa adjacent to one end of the sofa.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a portion of the mattress support subassembly, illustrating an elastomeric side support member or a spring loaded portion.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of an air mattress with a one-piece foam support adapted to complement a spring mattress on a conventional sleeping couch with a sleeping surface filled with air.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an air mattress with a multi-piece foam support adapted to replace a conventional spring mattress on a conventional sleeping couch.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a multi-piece foam support system of the mattress shown in FIG. 18 FIG. 19A is a detailed perspective view of a portion of the panel supports shown in FIG. 19 representing an inner core of foam spliced between solid supports.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of an air mattress adapted to settle to the top of a conventional spring mattress on a conventional sleeping couch.

FIG. 21 is an elevation view of the mattress support sub-assembly depicting the manner in which the seat sub-assembly is supported on a seat base.

FIG. 22 is a schematic perspective section of the seat sub-assembly shown in FIG. twenty-one.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a sleeping sofa embodiment, incorporating the seat sub-assembly shown in FIGS. 21 and 22 with the sleeping sofa assembly incorporating the seat sub-assembly shown in FIGS. 21 and 22 with the sleeping sofa assembly extended in the sleeping position.

FIG. 24 is a partial perspective view of the side portion of a conventional mattress support assembly that has been modified to accept an air mattress.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of a half of a retention mechanism used to secure the footboard of the sofa to the body of the sofa.

Fig. 26 is an elevation view of a sleeping sofa assembly depicting the manner in which some of the panels in the mattress support sub-assembly are raised to allow another support panel to slide under the raised portion.

IV. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Reference is made to illustrative embodiments of the invention. Examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Numerous modifications and variations of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used to designate the drawings and their parts or the like.

The sleeping sofa of the present invention has a pleasant external appearance, similar to that of a conventional sleeping sofa. Although not apparent in the seating position, the sofa of the invention also includes a mattress structure that folds in and out of the body of the sofa, instead of bending in and out of the body of the sofa as in the conventional sleeping sofas. In some of the sleeping sofa embodiments of the invention described below, the mattress support sub-assembly also slides in and out of the sofa body, unlike the others; wherein the mattress support sub-assembly is bent at the top of the collapsible mattress structure.

FIGS. 1A-E generally represent a sleeping sofa embodiment in accordance with the invention. The sleeping sofa may have the structure of a conventional sofa, including the opposite rests for the arms, a rear or inclined resting portion and a cavity for receiving the mattress 40 or mattress support. The seat and the rear rest cushions are used when the sleeping sofa is used as a sofa (when the mattress structure and the support sub-assembly are stored on the sofa) to provide a comfortable seating surface designed with a surface single springs, as illustrated in FIG. 1A. The seat cushions are removable to allow the sleeping couch to move between the retracted position or the seating position and the seating position or sleeping position.

The removed seat cushions are stored in a convenient location until the mattress structure and support sub-assembly are returned to the seating position. The sofa 10 is shown in FIGS. 1A-1 E in a sequence illustrating the manner in which the assembly of the sleeping sofa 35 or sofa 10 moves from a seating position (FIGS.1A and 1B) to a sleeping position (FIGS. 1 D and 1 E).

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of one embodiment of a sleeping sofa 10 shown in a seating position with the cushions 18 on the sofa 10. FIG. 1 B is a perspective view of the sleeping sofa 10, but with the seat cushions 18 removed to expose the sofa assembly to sleep fully retracted 35 in the seating position. FIG. 1C is a perspective view of the sofa for sleeping, but with the seat cushions 18 removed to expose the fully folded mattress and the mattress support system comprises the panels 30, 32 and 34. FIG. 1C also represents the mattress structure 58n in a fully extended sleeping position. FIG. 1D is a perspective view of the sleeping couch, but with the seat cushions 18 removed to expose the fully unfolded mattress or a five-panel extended pattern, of a mattress support sub-assembly. FIG. 1 E is a perspective view of the sleeping sofa 10, in a sleeping position with the seat cushions 18 removed to expose the fully unfolded inflated mattress 40, supported in a five-panel, extended manner; of a mattress support sub-assembly. The mattress cover 51 is shown folded back to reveal the body of the mattress 41 and the top 44. Also shown in dotted lines are the belts 52, which help to deflate the mattress body 41 from the terminal of the feet of the mattress. mattress 40, first by the opposite deployment portions of the side wall 42 from one to the other.

A. MODALITY OF SUPPORT-BENDING The first embodiment of the sleeping sofa of the invention is the folded box or support system, whose variations are described; including a five-panel version, a four-panel version and a sofa-side sleeping design. 1. Five panel version FIG. 4A illustrates the five-panel version of the folded support mode in the seating position for use as a sofa. The folding mattress support sub-assembly includes five pivotally connected rectangular panels 30, 32, 34, 36 and 38 (collectively support panels 31) that form a horizontal mattress support structure when unfolded. The support panels 30, 32 and 34 are preferably connected to two of the hinges 150 (see FIG 4B). The support panels 31 may be formed of wood, wood chipboard, plastic or other polymers, metal, or any other suitable material. The support panels 31 as shown, define continuous surfaces. However, the support panels 31 can also be structurally designed by an engineer, so that they do not define continuous surfaces.

The hinges 150 include a central portion 152 to which two flanges 154a and 154b are connected by hinges about the pivotal axes 156a and 156b, respectively. The central portion 152 of the hinge 150 opens the total width of the panel 32 and fixed to panel 32 (for example, with screws). The panels 30 and 34 are fixed to the flanges 154a and 154b. The hinges 150 limit the range of angular movement of the panel 34 to the panel 32 and of the panel 32 to the panel 30 for more than or less than approximately 90 °, so that the panels 30, 32 and 34 can be bent in a U-shape with panels 30 and 34 parallel, but without parallel passage.

The panel 34 remains horizontally disposed in the seating and sleeping positions. In contrast, the panels 30, 32, 36 and 38 of the five-panel version, change the orientations relative to the horizontal panel 34, as they move from the seating position to the sleeping position and return to the seating position. . As shown in FIG. 4A, the panels 36 and 38 are in a vertical orientation relative to the panel 34. When in the seating position, the panel 32 is also vertical, specifically oriented perpendicular to the panel 34 and the panel 30 is substantially parallel to the panel 34. As shown in FIG. 4A, with the support panels 31 in the seating position, one side of the panel 30 is face down towards the panel 34 and makes contact with a portion of the air mattress 40 and the opposite side of the panel 30 face up and supports the cushions of seat 18 (not shown) of the sofa 10. As shown in FIG. 8, the panel 30 may have a number of openings therethrough, so that the panel 30 curves more than a solid panel to provide support more flexible for cushions 18.

To move the support panels 31 from the seating position shown in FIG. 4A to the sleeping position, the seat cushions 18 are first removed and the footboard 22 is placed away from the back 12. The footboard 22 is connected to a plurality of anchor groups 60, 62, 64 and 66 that foldably extend to provide a mattress structure 58 on which the support panels 31 are disposed when in the sleeping position. Each of the groups of anchors 60, 62, 64 and 66 comprises a plurality of individual anchors connected to each other, so that they slide in the longitudinal direction defined by the group of anchors.

FIG. 2 Illustrate groups 60, 62, 64 and 66 of anchors and footboard 22 in the sleeping position. Groups 60 and 66 include five individual anchors and function substantially in the same way. From the back 12 of the sofa 10 to the footboard 22, the group 60 anchors include anchors 60a, 60b, 60c, 60d and 60e. Similarly, group 66 anchors include anchors 66a, 66b, 66c, 66d and 66e. The anchor 60a is fixed spatially relative to the structure of the sleeping sofa assembly 35, specifically to the transverse rails 68 and 70 in the illustrated embodiment and is fixed spatially relative to the sofa 10. As the footboard 22 pulls separately from the rear part 12, the anchors 60a, 60b, 60c, 60d and 60e move relative to one another, so that the group 60 is lengthened. The anchors 60a, 60b, 60c, 60d and 60e can be slidably connected in various ways. Any form of slidable connection of the anchors 60a, 60b, 60c, 60d and 60e is acceptable, provided that the anchors slide relative to each other, along their respective longitudinal axes and for a limited range of stroke . For example, Groups 62 and 64 include four individual anchors and function substantially in the same way. From the back 12 of the sofa 10 to the footboard 22, the anchors of the group 62 include the anchors 62a, 62b, 62c and 62d. Similarly, group 64 anchors include anchors 64a, 64b, 64c and 64d. The anchors may be formed of wood, plastic or other polymers, or any other suitable material.

To illustrate the sliding connection between the adjacent anchors in the groups 60, 62, 64 and 66 of anchors, the anchor 60a has a slit and the anchor 60b has a projection that slides into the slit in the anchor 60a. The projection of the anchorage 60b slides along the slit as the anchor 60b is extended longitudinally relative to the anchor 60a, so that the anchors 60a and 60b maintain their relative lateral positions. When the anchor 60b is fully extended relative to the anchor 60a, the projection on the anchor 60b comes into contact with a stop in the slot in the anchor 60a to prevent longitudinal extension of the anchor 60b. Each pair of adjacent anchors in all groups 60, 62, 64 and 66 of anchors is similarly connected to one another. For each pair of adjacent anchors, the stoppage in the proximal anchor limits the maximum extension of the distal anchor to limit the extended length of the pair. Thus, a maximum extended length for each group 60, 62, 64 and 66 of anchors establishes the correct extended length of the mattress structure 58 to properly support the air cushion 40.

A footboard bracket attachment for the feet (not shown) is attached to the distal end of each of the anchors 60e, 62d, 64d and 66e. The upholstered footboard 22 is attached to the footboard accessory. In this way, the user manually moves the mattress structure 58 to the sleeping position, pulls the footboard 22 apart from the back 12 of the sofa 10., which pulls correspondingly the most distal anchors 60e, 62d, 64d and 66e attached to the board for the feet 22. As the user continues to extend the mattress structure 58, the anchor groups 60, 62, 64 and 66 extend to its totality. Once fully extended, preferably, the user completely pulls the mattress structure 58 a short distance away from the back 12 until the mattress structure 58 is in the sleeping position. Such an action creates an intermediate space between the head end of the mattress structure 58 and the back 12 of the sofa 10. Essentially, the proximal ends of the anchors 62a and 64a are attached to the head 73 (FIG. which can slide relatively with respect to the support arms 14 and 16 of the structure. But, the anchors 60a and 66a are attached to a part of the structure of the arms 14 and 16, respectively. In this way, when the groups of anchors 62 and 64 are fully extended and the user pulls the board for the feet; even farther from the back 12, the groups of anchors 63 and 64 pull the head 73 away from the back 12, as the groups of anchors 60 and 66 further extend to their fully extended position. As mentioned above, the mattress structure 58 can be fully extended and retracted between its sleeping and seating positions, in an automated manner.

The mattress structure 58 is supported on the floor by, for example, a series of rollers or wheels, which can be fixed to any number of anchors. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the sheaves are connected to the lower parts of the anchors 60c, 60e, 62c, 64c and 66e, which support the weight placed in the extended groups of anchors 60, 62, 64 and 66. The foundation blocks 67 also position and they support the anchors 60a and 66a and therefore, the proximal end of the anchor groups 60 and 66.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, more or less groups of anchors may be used, depending on the desired design. Similarly, the number of anchors in each of the anchor groups can be changed as desired. The factors included in determining the number and type of anchors used include the length of the mattress support and the air mattress to be laid on the surface extending between the footboard and the back portion of the sofa, the weight of the load, the strength of the anchors, the materials used to form the anchors and the maximum desired weight of the sofa by itself.

From the above discussion, one skilled in the art will also appreciate that the arrangement of the projections and slits can be reversed and that the complementary slots and projections is not the only way to slidably connect the anchors.

Once the groups of anchors 60, 62, 64 and 66 are in the sleeping position as shown in FIG. 2, the sub-assembly of the mattress support can be arranged on the mattress structure 58. As shown in FIG. 4A, the user can first extend the panels 30 and 32, so that they are parallel to the panel 34 without unfolding them, leaving them at the top of the mattress structure 58. Once the panels 30, 32 and 34 are unfolded, then the person can pull the panel 30 towards the foot board, which causes the panels 36 and 38 to slide down and out of the back 12.

Panels 36 and 38 can slide in and out of the back 12 of the sofa 10. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the panel 38 (which is disposed at the highest position within the back 12 of the sofa 10 when the sleeping sofa assembly is in the seating position) has wheels or rollers (not shown) attached to its end next. The wheels are coupled to a curved track of the surface that guides the panels 36 and 38 in and out of the back 12 of the sofa 10. Additional wheels may be placed in different places on the underside of the panels 36 and 38 to ensure that the panels move freely between the sleeping and seating positions. The wheels contact and circulate on a surface (not shown) placed in the rear inner section of the rear part 12. This surface is oriented to allow the panels 36 and 38 to pass smoothly into the interior and exterior of the rear part 12, without joining against the body of the sofa 10.

When extended, the panels 36 and 38 move downward and outwardly from the back 12. The panels 36 and 38 follow the panel 34 as it is pulled away from the back 12. As the sofa assembly for sleeping 35 moves from the sitting position to the sleeping position, the obtuse angle between the panels 34 and 36 increases approximately 180 ° until the panels 34 and 36 form a substantially contiguous flat surface. Continuously pulling the panel 30 towards the footboard 22 causes the panels 36 and 38 to move downward and outwardly from the back 12, so that all five panels form a substantially flat surface on which an air mattress 40 is arranged. That is, as the panel 30 is pulled away from the back 12 of the sofa 10, panels 32 and 34 follow and the panels 36 and 38 are retracted from the back 12 of the sofa 10. The sleeping position is achieved when the panel reaches the board for the feet 22. At this point, the mattress structure and the support sub-assembly provide a solid surface to support the air cushion 40.

Instead of wheels on the undersides of the panels 36 and 38 running along a surface on the inside of the back 12, other means (not shown) can help the panels 36 and 38 move between the positions of seat and to sleep. For example, curved or arched tracks or channels placed on the inside and adjacent to each of the sides of the back 12 can replace the surface on the inside of the back 12. The complementary guides mounted on the panels 36 and 38 they are fixed to the side edges of the panels 36 and 38. The guides have a low friction interface with the sliding channel within the channel, as the panels 36 and 38 move between the sleeping and seating positions. The guides, for example, can be wheels or pins.

To return the sleeping sofa assembly 35 back to the seating position, the mattress 40 is preferably partially deflated. Once the panels 30 and 32 are folded to the seating positions discussed above as shown in FIG. 4a, all or most of the anchors 60d and 60e, 62c and 62d, 64c and 64d and 66e and 66d no longer support the mattress 40. In this way, the footboard 22 is easily pushed to be adjacent to the panel 32 , which is vertically oriented.

As the user pushes the footboard toward the back 12 of the sofa 10, the panels 36 and 38 are correspondingly pushed to move upward from the interior of the back 12 of the sofa 10 until the sleeping sofa 35 is in the seating position, as shown in FIG. 4A.

To secure the footboard 22 in the seating position, a retention mechanism with complementary components is connected to the distal side of the footboard 22 and the lower side of the proximal ends of the arms 14 and 16. The portion of The retaining mechanism attached to the footboard 22 is, for example, a fixed, attached rim near a side edge of the footboard 22 and extends to the rear 12 with an upwardly facing flange parallel to the backboard for the feet. 22 feet and close to the most posterior flange of the flange (not shown). The complementary portion of the retention mechanism attached to the arms 14 and 16 and is, for example, a wheel 180 mounted on a shaft 182 which slides in a downwardly extending channel 184 and which is deflected downwardly with a spring (see FIG. 25). When the footboard 22 is pushed towards the sofa 10, the ridges on the cam of the flanges of the wheels 180 move upwards against the force of the springs. As the footboard 22 contacts the sofa 10, the springs force the wheels 180 down the side of the flange near the footboard 22 and secure the footboard 22 against the sofa 10. This retention mechanism ensures that the mattress structure 58 does not extend inadvertently when the sofa 10 is in the seating position. The footboard 22 provides a finished appearance of the front of the sofa 10 and prevents damage to the interior of the sofa 10, when the sofa 10 is in the seating position. When the footboard 22 is held against the sofa 10 in the seating position, the seat cushions 18 can be placed towards the panel 34, so that the sofa 10 can be used as a sofa. 2. Four Panels Version As one skilled in the art will appreciate, it can be difficult to manually push the footboard 22 toward the seating position when the panels 36 and 38 of the five panel version are moved on the back 12 of the sofa 10. The forces that opposing the movement of the panels 36 and 38 of the five-panel version, upward on the sofa 10 include the gravitational and frictional resistance of thrust against the groups of anchors 60, 62, 64 and 66. In accordance , the five-panel version of the folded support mattress modality of FIG. 4A can be difficult for someone weak in health. One option is to use an automated retraction and an extension system to move the support panels 31 between the sleeping and seating positions discussed above. Another option is to use the four-panel version of the folded support mode.

As shown in FIG 3B, the four-panel version of the folded support mode has only four support panels, the panels 30, 32, 34 and 36 (collectively, support panels 31). The panels 30, 32 and 34 are folded into a "U" shape when in the seating position (similar to the configuration of panels 30, 32 and 34 of the five panel version). In the sleeping position, the support panels 31 of the four-panel version form a flat surface. However, unlike the five-panel version, the rearmost panel 34 in the "U" of the four-panel version is spatially fixed and relative to the back 12 of the sofa 10. Thus, the panel 34 does not it slides along the mattress structure 58 when moving between the seating and sleeping positions, as in the five-panel version. Additionally, the panel 37 not connected to the panels forming the "U" is attached in an attached manner to the mattress structure 58 adjacent to the board 22.

The panels 30, 32 and 34 are attached to each other in a single arrangement of hinges, so that the individual panels 30, 32 and 34 are created when the "U" is unfolded in the sleeping position. When the sleeping sofa assembly 35 is in the sitting position, the panels 30 and 32 are folded, so that the panel 30 is located above the panel 34 and the panel 37 is stored under the panel 34. When the Sleeping sofa assembly 35 to the sleeping position of the seating position, the 22 foot board is pulled away from the back 12 of the sofa 10, similar to the footboard in the five panel version. The panel 37, when attached in an attached manner to the anchors 60e, 62d, 64d and 66e slides out from the bottom panels 30, 32 and 34. When the footboard 22 is fully extended, the "U" does not it is bent to form flat panels 30, 32 and 34 for the mattress 40, which is substantially coplanar with the panel 37 as shown in FIG 3. As discussed below, it is also preferred that at least a portion of the panel 34 be moved (after the panel 37 slides out from under the U) down slightly at a distance that is approximately the same as the width of the panel 37, so that the panels 30, 32, 34 and 37 are substantially coplanar .

In the preferred embodiment, the mattress cover 51 is permanently secured to a portion of panels 30 and 34 and stored in the sofa 10 when it is in the seating position. Preferably, the proximal end (or head) of the mattress cover 51 is secured adjacent the proximal end of the panel 34. Because the head end of the mattress 40 moves only slightly during retraction and extension of the sofa assembly for sleep 35, in all (no more than about 20 cm), the position of the pneumatic system 90 relative to the portal in the mattress 40 changes only slightly. In this way, the connection between the pneumatic system 90 and the mattress 40 is similarly more feasible than the systems with undue relative movement between the pneumatic system and the mattress.

When the mattress 40 is stored on the sofa 10 the fully deflated mattress 40 is fixed to the interior of the U formed by the panels 30, 32 and 34. The distal end of the mattress 40, which rests on the panel 37 when the mattress 40 it unfolds, bends in the back towards the mattress 40's rest before folding the U-panels 30, 32 and 34. Once the mattress is folded in this way, the panels 30, 32 and 34 are folded in their U-shaped warehouse, to substantially contain the complete mattress 40.

Similar to the five-panel version, the deflated mattress 40 does not bend like panels 30, 32 and 34 without bending in the sleeping position. The foot end of the mattress 40 does not bend towards the panel 37. In the preferred embodiment, the mattress 40 includes a rod disposed between the bottom surface 46 and the cover 51 of the mattress 40. The rod, which can be made of plasticized cardboard , wood or any other suitable material, which allows the user to bend and better control the third or fourth distal of the mattress 40 when it is deployed in the upper part of the panel 37.

Once the mattress 40 is placed on the support panels 31, it can be inflated using the pneumatic system 90 described in section IV.D of this document. After being used, the mattress 40 deflates and the distal portion of the mattress 40 is disconnected from the panel 37. To move the sleeping sofa assembly to the seating position, the distal portion of the mattress 40 bends to the rest of the mattress 40 and panels 30 and 32 are folded to form the "U" with the panel 34. The user subsequently pushes the footboard 22 toward the back 12 of the sofa 10. As the footboard 22 moves , panel 37 reaches the point where it is placed next to panel 34.

There are several ways to place the panel 37 below the panel 34. One option is for the panel 34 to be placed with a slit between it and the mattress structure 58 and the panels 30, 32, 34 and 37 are thin, for example, 0.3 cm to 0.6 cm. When such panels are deployed in the sleeping position, the panels 31 are not coplanar, the upper part of the panel 37 is smaller than the upper part of the panels 30, 32 and 34. However, the user who sleeps on the mattress 40 he would hardly notice a small irregularity in the surface formed by the panels 31.

Another way to place the panel 37 below the panel 34 is to allow the panel 34 to move vertically upward during the transition from the sleeping position to the seating position to make a housing for the panel 37. For example, the panel 34 can attached to the mattress structure 58 by connections that allow the panel 34 to move between the raised and lowered positions. In the raised position, the panel 37 is disposed below the panel 34. When the panel 37 is pulled from the panel 34 below and moved to the sleeping position, the panel 34 descends to be arranged in the mattress structure 58. From this mode in the sleeping position panels 34 and 37 have coplanar top surfaces. To move the sleeping sofa assembly from the sleeping position to the seating position, the panel 37 is pushed towards the panel 34. The distal edge of the panel 37 can be beveled, so that the panel 37 lifts the panel 34, as the panel 37 slides under the panel 34. To reduce the friction when the panel 37 slides down from the panel 34, the lower part of the panel 34 can include wheels that engage the upper surface of the panel 37. Preferably, the wheels are positioned so that they do not contact the mattress structure 58, which may result in the panel 34 not being flat with respect to the panel 37 when the sleeping sofa assembly is in the sleeping position.

Another contemplated method is to use a meshing system that raises and lowers the height of the panel 34. For example, the gears can cause the connections to move from the lowered position to the raised position, which correspondingly raises the panel 34 to allow the panel 37 is arranged under the panel 34.

FIG 26 illustrates another variation of the means for positioning the panel 37 below the panel 34 which encompasses the positioning of the panel 30 in the seating position, so as to cause the panel 34 to rise. In one embodiment, a horizontally oriented support bracket is connected to the middle side of each of the arms 14 and 16 of the sofa 10. When the panel 30 is folded from the sleeping position to the seating position the panel 30 is placed in the upper part of the support support, which causes the panel 32 and therefore the panel 34 to rise above the structure of the mattress 58. That is, the positions of the support support of the panel 30 higher than the panel 30 are located above the panel 34 based on the length of the panel 32 causing the panel 34 to protrude from the structure of the mattress 58. The raised panel 34 allows the panel 37 to slide under the panel 34.

A variation of the "U" section of the four panel version is shown in FIGS 21-23, which is a schematic illustration in elevation. The panels 34 and 32 are essentially the same panels as those described above. However, the panel 30 is replaced by a seat sub-assembly 30 '. The seat sub-assembly 30 'comprises a suspension member defining a seating plane which is constructed of a plurality of sinuous springs 136 (or other suitable suspension member similar to an elastomeric band or panel) within a cushioned cover 134 and suspended between a longitudinal outer rail 39a and a parallel inner rail 39b. The outer rail 39a and the inner rail 39b are rigidly supported in parallel to one another by rolling support rails 130 and 132. When the sleeping sofa assembly is in the seating position, the support rails 130 and 132 support the outer rail 39a and inner rail 39b below panel 34, which acts as a seat base. Because the support rails 130 and 132 lack structure in the seating plane defined by the suspension member, the suspension member is free to flex downwardly under the weight of a user sitting on the seat cushions. placed on top of the suspension member. In this way, the sub-assembly 30 'provides an upper seating surface compared to the panel 30 because it is virtually identical to the seating surface used in conventional sofas that are not used for sleeping. The seat subassembly 30 'does not have low hard points the cushions 18, except for the outer rail 39a and the inner rail 39b, which are present in the conventional sofas that are not used for sleeping (however, rigidly attached to the sofa structure).

FIG 16 is a perspective view of a sleeping sofa assembly 35, in which the panels 30 and 32 and the footboard 22 were omitted for clarity purposes. The sleeping sofa assembly 35 includes a support 69 incorporating an elastomer 69a or springs that aid in deflection when used in the body of the sofa. FIG 16 further represents the panel 34 immobilized in a stationary position on the rear legs 67b. The panel 37, which is arranged below the panel 34, slides out and away from the stationary panel 34 as discussed in part IV. A. 2. FIG 16 also shows the mattress structure 58, which includes the anchor groups 60, 62, 64 and 66 and the legs 67a and 67b of the sleeping sofa assembly 35. 3. Sleeping Sofa Side Version As one of ordinary skill in the art knows, conventional sleep sofas of the prior art open to a length that increases as the user falls asleep perpendicular to the back 12 of the sofa 10. A version of the invention (not shown) is a "side sleeping sofa", in which the user lies parallel to the back 12. According to the invention, the sofa 10 is slightly wider than a conventional sleeping sofa and the mattress structure 58 is smaller in the sleeping position. For a queen size mattress, the preferred sleeping mode on the side in the sleeping position has dimensions of approximately 152 cm from the back 12 to the board for the feet 22 and approximately 203 cm in the direction along the length of the sofa 10. A basic advantage of the side sleeping version is an easier manual operation and a smaller probability of a problem arising from the folding mechanism during the shorter stroke of the mattress structure 58 between the seating and sleeping positions. .

B. The Coil Modalities 1. First Version The second embodiment of the sleeping sofa assembly 35 is the coil mode. The first version of the coil modalities comprises a solid panel 33 and two groups of slats, a distal group 27 and a neighboring group 29, with groups 27 and 29 pivotally connected to the opposite ends of the panel 33. The slats in each one of the groups 27 and 29 are also pivotally connected to each other and perpendicularly oriented to the anchoring groups 60, 62, 64 and 66 and parallel to the board for the feet 22. When the sleeping assembly 35 is in the seating position as shown in FIG 5, the panel 33 is disposed below the cushions 18 and the distal edge of the panel 33 is adjacent to the footboard 22. The group 29 of slats is disposed below the panel 33 and the group 27 of slats is laid on and supported by the panel 33.

The spacing between the slats of each group can be varied based on different factors, such as the width of the slats, the manufacturing material of the slats, the inflation pressure of the mattress 40, the strength of the mattress 40, the maximum desired weight of the sofa to sleep, among others. Each of the slats of group 29 is preferably 6 cm wide and the slats of group 27 are approximately 2.5 cm. Using slats placed separately reduces the weight of the sofa 10 compared to the use of all solid panels, as in the modes of the bent stand.

To locate the coil mode of the sleeping sofa assembly 35 in the sleeping position, the footboard 22 and the mattress structure 58 extend away from the back 12 of the sofa 10 as discussed above in connection with the folded support arrangements of the sleeping sofa assembly 35. When the sleeping sofa assembly 35 is in the sleeping position, the panel 33 is pulled away from the rear 12 and disposed over the anchors 60c and 60d, 62b and 62c, 64b and 64c and 66c and 66d. The group of slats 27 does not extend from the upper part of the panel 33, either before or after the panel 33 is placed in its sleeping position and is disposed over the anchors 60e, 62b, 64d and 66e.

When the sleeping sofa assembly 35 moves to the sleeping position, the group of slats 29 moves along a horseshoe-shaped track to form a substantially flat surface with the panel 33. That is, as the panel 33 is pulled from the back 12 of the sofa 10, the group of slats 29 slides correspondingly around the horseshoe-shaped track to rest on the top of the anchors 60b, 62a, 64a and 66b. In this way, the upper surfaces of both groups 27 and 29 of slats and the panel 33 provide a substantially flat resting surface for the mattress 40.

To move the sleeping assembly 35 towards the rear of the seating position, the panel 33 is pushed towards the back 12 of the sofa 10 until its proximal edge is adjacent to the rear part 12. The group of slats 29, which is the closest to the body of the sofa, it slides around the horseshoe-shaped track to be partially arranged under the panel 33 again. The group of slats 27 is folded towards the upper surface of the panel 33 as shown in FIG. 5.

Unlike the folded support modes, the mattress 40 in the coil mode is preferably separated from the panel 33 and the groups of slats 27 and 29 as it retracts into the couch 10. The mattress 40 is directed around the rollers on the back of the sofa, same as shown in FIG. 5. The flexible mattress 40 passes through the rollers 72 and 74 and 76 in the rear part 12 of the sofa 10 and pushes the air out of the chamber (s) (s) of the mattress 40, thus "circulating" air outside and inside the mattress 40 deflating. For more effective results, the chamber (s) is (are) preferably at least partially deflated (s) before being directed to rollers 72 and 74.

To assist the "circulation" system, a motorized system can be used to simultaneously retract the sleeping sofa assembly 35 and the mattress 40. One mode, for example, can use a motor that generates a rotational output connected to a rotating arrow. to locate the mattress 40 and the group of slats 29 in the body of the sofa 10. Other embodiments of the automated retraction system are discussed later.

As one skilled in the art will appreciate, it is advantageous to use a differential gear to retract the mattress 40 faster than to the sleeping sofa assembly 35.

The differential gear can be as simple as the use of an arrow having different diameters, in which a flexible cable is connected to the mattress 40 and the arrow in one of its diameters and another flexible cable is connected to the sleeping sofa assembly. and the arrow in a position that has a different diameter. The respective cables wrap around the different diameters of the arrow causing the mattress 40 and the sleeping sofa assembly 35 to retract at different speeds. Alternatively, a different gear system can be used to retract the two components at different speeds in relation to one another. 2. Second version A second version of the coil mode, shown in FIG 6, uses the panel 33 attached in a fixed manner to at least one of the four anchors, similarly to the four-panel version of the folded support mode. The panel 33 is attached to the upper surface of the anchors 60e, 62b, 64d and 66e that are supported by wheels. The directional end of the panel 33 abuts the footboard 22 when the mattress structure 58 retracts, the panel 33 is positioned to support the seat cushions 18.

A variation of this second version of the coil mode uses a plurality of pivotally connected slats, similar to the first version of the coil mode that forms the flat support where the stored air cushion is disposed separately. That is to say, instead of using two groups of slats in which one group is placed on each side of the panel 33, this variation only uses a single group of slats 25 covering the anchors 60a-60d, 62a-62c, 64a-62c and 66a-66d when the sleeping sofa assembly 35 is in the sleeping position. In this version the group of slats 25 is stored below the panel 33 in the seating position separately from the mattress 40, such as on a track in a manner similar to that already discussed. Also, similar to the first version of coil mode, the mattress 40 is preferably wrapped around the rollers in the back portion of the sofa.

Another variation of the second version uses a cover 51 on the mattress body 41 of the mattress 40, in which the lower portion of the cover holds a plurality of slats placed apart oriented perpendicular to the anchors and parallel to the footboard 22. The slats are placed inside the cover starting approximately one third to one quarter of the length of the mattress 40 away from its end arranged adjacent to the board for the feet 22. In this way, the slats are inserted starting at the point where the panel 33 ends when the mattress 40 is placed on the extended sleeping sofa assembly, for example, on the third anchor. In a preferred embodiment, the slats have a width of 5 cm and are spaced from 2.5 to 10 cm.

The slats spaced apart allow the mattress 40 to be retracted through the rollers on the back of the sofa with the mattress 40. That is, based on the orientation of the slats, the mattress 40 has slats arranged on its cover that can traverse the rollers to allow deflation of the air chambers. This version has the advantage that the mattress 40 and the slats are retracted together, instead of separately.

Another variation uses a lattice disposed between the mattress cover 51 and the chamber (s) in the body of the mattress 41. The lattice provides support for the chamber (s) disposed therein, which can Also be wrapped around the rollers. The lattice may consist of a polymeric material or another which is supported by the mattress structure 58 and which can pass through the rollers.

For these variations of the second version of the coil mode, the foot end of the mattress 40 adjacent the footboard 22 is preferably removably secured to a portion of the panel 33.

In the seating position the almost deflated air mattress is stored on the back of the sofa and the seat cushions are arranged on the panel 33. 3. Side Sleeping Version As discussed in the folded support modes, the side sleeping version can also be used for the coil mode. The same advantages apply compared to the folded support modes because the side sleeping version requires less movement between the sleeping and seating positions, which simplifies the design and reduces the likelihood of problems occurring.

C. EL Mattress Another aspect of the invention is a mattress 40 best adapted for use with a sleeping couch. Conventional air mattresses use air chambers that have a rubber cover surrounded by foam. The foam may be a material disposed within a sleeve circumscribing the edges of each air chamber with the air chambers of the mattress removably secured to the sleeve. This foam, however, is not ideally suited with the mattress 40 in accordance with the present invention because it does not easily compress or bend when the mattress 40 is stored on the sofa 10. Such a foam edge is particularly problematic when they use rollers to deflate the mattress 40 or when it is stored in a small storage space within the sofa 10. Another disadvantage of the foam is that the consumer generally does not like the feel of the texture when it rests on a foam mattress.

However, without a lateral support surrounding the edges of the chamber (s), the mattress 40 lacks the desired structural support. For example, when a user sits on the side of the mattress 40, it tends to curl and is excessively soft. 1. Mattress body with a single chamber FIG. 9 illustrates a single-chamber mattress 40 that includes a mattress body 41 with an upper portion 44, a lower portion 46 and a side wall 42 defining the chamber 45. A plurality of baffles 47, each with a plurality of openings therein, being connected to the upper part 44 and the lower part 46 inside the chamber 45 to control the air flow from one portion of the chamber 45 to another. This type of mattress 40 is the least complex and therefore the easiest to manufacture.

Another embodiment of a single-chamber mattress 40 may include baffles 47 that do not extend to the side wall 42 of the mattress body 41. The effect of such baffles is that the upper and lower surfaces of the side portions 42a and 42b project from the upper part 44 and the lower part 46 of the rest of the mattress body 41 (see FIG 11 A). Said lateral portions 42a and 42b prevent the user from winding the edge of the mattress body 41. 1. Mattress body Multi-Camera FIG. 10 illustrates a modality of the multi-chamber mattress 40, comprising a first generally rectangular chamber 45 surrounded by a second horseshoe-shaped chamber 43. The second chamber 43 defines a cavity in which the first chamber 45 is received in a complementary manner. The air chamber 45 can be detachably secured to the second chamber 43, if desired, by "VELCRO" ™ fasteners, snap fasteners or other suitable fastening systems. The chamber 43 may have other shapes, such as a design having two opposite longitudinal sides or four sides that complementarily surround the chamber 45, instead of the three sides as in the horseshoe-shaped chamber 43 shown in FIG. . 10. The preferred thickness of the side portions 43a, 43b and 43c and the lower portion 43d of the chamber 43 is about 3.8 cm. Another option for the design is that the bottom 43d of the chamber 43 does not inflate, similar to inflatable pools for children.

In the horseshoe-shaped embodiment of the chamber 43 shown in FIG 10, the head end of the chamber 45 is positioned so that it does not come into contact with any side portion 43b of the chamber 43 to provide free access to the chamber. valve and the portal for inflation and deflation. The chamber 43 is inflated to a high air pressure, so that it is very firm and rigid. In this way, the chamber 43 provides the desired structural support, despite the lower pressure of the chamber 45. The chamber 43 also provides a firm foundation for the chamber 45 similar to the effect of a spring box on a conventional spring mattress. In this way, the slats used in the coil mode can be set apart at a greater amplitude compared to the use of the chamber 45, inflated at a low pressure and disposed directly on the upper part of the slats.

FIG. 11 B represents a multi-chamber mattress body 41 that a variation of the mattress 41 shown in cross section in FIG. 11 A. In order to prevent the user from wrapping one side of the body of the mattress 41 to the other, a central chamber 49 may be interposed in the mattress body 41 to divide the chamber 45 into two separate, controlled pressure chambers, namely cameras 45a and 45b. Because the pressure in the chambers 45a and 45b can be controlled separately, two users can customize their respective sleeping surfaces according to their personal tastes.

FIG. 12 illustrates another embodiment of a multi-chamber mattress 40 that can include two separate support chambers 43a 'and 43c' that can be attached on the two opposite sides of the chambers 45a and 45b as shown in FIGS. 11 and 11 A. In the same manner as in chamber 43 in mattress mode 40 shown in FIG. 10, the chambers 43a 'and 43c' are inflated to a higher pressure than that of the chambers 45a or 45b. In the mattress mode 40, internal baffles 47 with openings 47a designed to control the air flow through the chambers 45a and 45b are also shown and provide an upper surface similar to a pillow 44 of the mattress 40. In the embodiment shown, the deflectors 47 are attached along their upper and lower edges in the upper part 44 and in the lower part 46 of the mattress 40, but the baffles 47 do not extend towards the chamber 43a 'and 43c'. Therefore, the chambers 43a 'and 43c' will be of greater height than the chambers 45a and 45b when inflated, which improves the impediment of the winding of the chambers 43a 'and 43c'.

FIGS. 12A-12C illustrate various ways in which any of the chambers 43, 43a 'and 43c' can be attached to the chamber 45. The attachment methods differ essentially in the degree to which the side wall 42 of the chamber 45 integrates with the adjacent inner wall of one of the chambers 43, 43a 'and 43c'. FIG. 12A illustrates the annex of one of the chambers 43, 43a 'and 43c' to the chamber 45 using complementary hook and clamp clips. FIG. 12B illustrates the linkage of one of the chambers 43, 43a 'and 43c' to the chamber 45 using an adhesive or other suitable bonding method. FIG. 12C illustrates a mode in which a portion of the side wall 42 of the chamber 45 is common to a portion of the inner side wall of one of the chambers 43, 43a 'or 43c'. 3. Collapse of the control edge using a mattress cover The second way in which the edge of the mattress 40 can be prevented from collapsing, is to place the mattress body 41 in a mattress cover 51 that is slightly smaller than the mattress body 41 when inflated. In such an arrangement, the cover 51 supports the side wall 42 of the mattress body 41 because the body 41 expands to fill the corners and edges of the cover 51. The disadvantage of this design compared to the dual chamber mode is that the user has less control of the firmness of the mattress 40. 4. The mattress located inside the sofa assembly to sleep In the four and five panel versions of the folded support mode of the sleeping sofa assembly shown in FIGS. 3B and 4A, the mattress 40 is preferably removably secured to one or more of the panels 31 of the sleeping sofa assembly 35 and stored adjacent to and between the panels when stored in the seating position. For example, complementary hook and clamp fasteners, commonly known as "VELCRO" ™ fasteners, may be suitably secured to the mattress 40 and certain panels of the support panels 31. The fasteners may alternatively be supplemented with snap fasteners. Other fasteners known in the art can also be used for the detachable connection of the separate components.

When the sleeping sofa assembly 35 is in the seating position, the mattress 40 is pre-positioned on the support panels 31 and ready to be inflated as shown in FIG. 1 D. As one skilled in the art can appreciate, the air mattress 40 comprises a flexible inflatable mattress body 41 made of any similar flexible material including at least one pressurized chamber. The mattress body 41, which is preferably attached within the cover 51 to form the mattress 40, preferably includes opposite upper or lower surfaces 44 and 46, respectively connected by the side wall 42, so that when inflated, the mattress 40 assumes a generally rectangular shape in a plan view. The mattress 40 has length and width dimensions that are substantially the same in length and width of the mattress support sub-assembly when in the sleeping position.

To inflate and deflate each chamber disposed within the mattress body 41, one or more tubular arrays defining portals (not shown) are provided through the walls of the mattress body 41 to communicate with each of the chambers. Each portal is preferably fixed on the side wall 42 of the mattress body 41 and a valve and other suitable mechanism for opening or closing the portal is used. For example, a valve comprises a flange integrally connected to an internally threaded cylindrical shut-off valve body and an externally threaded coupling closure plug. In another embodiment, the closure may be formed of complementary hose accessories. The portal is preferably hollow within the mattress body 41, so that the closure plug is substantially recessed in the side wall 42 when the portal is closed. Also, the closure seals are preferably attached to the mattress 40 by a chain, so that they are always conveniently available to the user.

When a valve is used in the mattress 40, the portals are opened by the passage of the check valve springs with a higher pressure or unscrewing and removing the valve covers or opening the valve by penetrating the valve with another body. A pneumatic system (a mode described in detail below) pressurizes the chamber (s) within the mattress body 41 until the correct firmness of the mattress is obtained. Alternatively, the mattress 40 may include internal springs that separate the upper and lower walls 44 and 46 of the mattress 40 and establish an air environment within the chamber (s) through the valve to inflate the mattress 40. When the mattress 40 is appropriately pressurized, the portals are closed to contain the air, so that the mattress 40 remains pressurized during use.

D. The pneumatic system In one embodiment of the sofa 10, the mattress 40 is inflated and deflated with a pneumatic sub-assembly 90 (FIG 7), which is permanently stored in a portion of one or both of the sides 14 and 16 or in the back 12 of the sofa 10. The FIG. 7 generally represents a pneumatic system 90, comprising a single reversible direction or fan, a valve, a fan portal and a control panel with controls. If necessary, the user connects the ventilator portal of a pneumatic assembly 90 to the portal in the mattress 40 using an accessory (not shown). According to the invention, the portal in the mattress 40 is preferably located near the back 12 of the sofa 10. In the preferred embodiment, the type of electrical energy required to operate the pneumatic assembly 90, is a power source of 120V AC, which is the normal residential unit in the United States. The pneumatic assembly can also use battery-supplied power or a rechargeable power supply, so that the fan operates during the loss of electrical power.

It is also preferred to use a coil to maintain the electrical current of the pneumatic assembly 90, so that the coil automatically generates the current after it is removed from an electrical outlet.

As one skilled in the art will appreciate, the pneumatic assembly 90 can inflate the mattress 40 to the desired firmness, which the user can alter as desired. The sleeping sofa assembly 35, when in a sleeping position, provides a safe surface level for the mattress 40 to ensure maximum comfort compared to conventional mattresses with conventional wire mesh structures, even if the user wants a surface soft to sleep. The sleeping sofa assembly also reduces the risk of damaging the mattress 40, which can occur if the mattress 40 were used on a conventional wire mesh support. Also, because the user can choose the firmness or softness of the mattress 40, the mattress of the present invention is much more comfortable than a conventional one that is not adjustable that is full of balls and with projections on the hinges.

To deflate the mattress 40 after use the check valve is diverted to allow air to escape from the chamber (s). When the pressure within the chamber (s) is equal to the main loss of air flow through the portal, the mattress 40 will be substantially deflated. The remaining air can be removed by compressing the chamber (s), so that the internal air pressure exceeds the main loss through the portal or by creating a vacuum by reversing the inflation pump . To compress the chamber (s) and allow more air to escape, the mattress 40 can be bent towards itself by moving the panels 30 and 32 to the seating position, in which the panel 32 is oriented perpendicular to the panel 34 and the panel 30 is arranged on the panel 34 as shown in FIG. 4A. The mattress portion 40 extending out of the space between the panels 30 and 34 can be manually compressed to ensure that the mattress 40 deflates to a sufficiently small size that it is placed on the back 12 of the sofa 10. Usually, the Portals remain open after the mattress 40 has been deflated.

Thus, the mattress 40 is perfectly suitable for use in a sleeping couch according to the invention to provide a comfortable sleeping surface and at the same time capable of folding in a limited space provided within a structure. In fact, the mattress 40 when deflated, requires less space than a conventional thin spring mattress and when inflated provides more support than the conventional mattress. The mattress 40 also provides greater comfort than the mattress of a conventional bed.

E. The board for the feet The present invention also includes an improved foot board 22. Instead of using a one piece foot board, the foot board 22 preferably includes two pieces to facilitate the manufacture of the sofa 10. The first piece is upholstered and is exposed when the sofa 10 is in the seating position . The second piece has two sides; one side connects the anchors 60e, 62d, 64d and 66e of the mattress structure 58 and the opposite side engages in a complementary manner to the rear side of the first upholstered piece. In this way, during manufacture, the first piece can be upholstered in one place and the second piece can concurrently be attached to the mattress support in another place. When the respective pieces are assembled, the first piece can be attached to the second piece by sliding it in the second piece, using fasteners or other means known in the art. Preferably, the second piece is located within the back portion of the first piece.

This aspect of the present invention has additional advantages over conventional footboards. For example, the two pieces can be formed of different materials, for example, one piece can be formed of wood and the other piece can be formed of plastic or another polymer. Also, the two pieces can be arranged to hide the screws or other fasteners used to connect the upholstery of the first piece. In addition, the design allows the user to repair or reupholster the first piece if it will be damaged, without requiring the extensive dismantling of the sofa to sleep.

F. Automatic retraction system The present invention can also be operated through automated means for moving the mattress support and the mattress 40 between the sleeping and seating positions. The two contemplated modalities of the automated means, in addition to the version of the motor and the arrow discussed above in the section of the coil mode, are a chain that pushes and pulls the anchors and a positioning system. 1. Modality of the placement system As shown schematically in FIG. 14 for the placement mode, four anchors 61a, 61b, 61c and 61 d are aligned in a side-by-side relationship. The anchor 61a. it is fixedly attached to the sofa 10 and the anchors 61 b, 61c and 61 d sliding longitudinally in relation to the anchor 61 a. FIG. 14 also shows schematically a reversible motor 100 that generates a rotational output, which directs to an arrow 102. The arrow 102 connects to two flexible cables 104a and 104b. The cables 104a and 104b wrap the arrow 102 in different directions, so that the cable 104a is wound when the arrow 102 rotates in one direction and the cable 104b is unrolled concurrently.

As will also be appreciated, the cable 104a is directed through a series of pulleys 106 and 108 that are rotatably attached to the anchors 61a, 61b, 61c and 61 d. The anchors 61 b, 61c and 61 d have a front pulley 106, located at the front end of the respective anchors and a return pulley 108, located adjacent to the rear ends of the anchors 61 b, 61c and 61 d which are the closer to the back 12 of the sofa 10. The anchor 61a has only one front pulley 106. When the anchors are retracted in the seating position, the front pulleys 106 and the return pulleys 108, respectively, align with each other . The cable 104a is woven through the pulleys and securely attached to a transverse member 110 which is fixedly connected to the mattress 40. The cable 104b is securely attached to the opposite side of the transverse member 110, without being interwoven around any of the pulleys.

When the shift motor 100 rotates in a first direction to cause the wire 104a to wrap around the arrow 102, the length of the wire 104 is shortened between the portion securely attached to the cross member 110 and the spin arrow 102. According to the invention, the anchors 61 a, 61 b, 61 c and 61 d and the transverse member 110 must move to compensate for the shortened length, which causes the anchors 61 a, 61 b, 61 c and 61 d to move longitudinally. That is, to compensate for the shortened length, the rear pulley 108 in an anchor is positioned adjacent to the front pulley 106 in the adjacent anchor. Similarly, the cross member 110 is positioned adjacent the front pulley 106 in the anchor 61 d. When the cable 104a reaches its shortest length without breaking, the anchors 61a, 61b, 61c and 61 d move to the sleeping position and the transverse member 110 moves to be adjacent to the front pulley 106 at the anchor 61 d .

In conjunction, the cable 104 is unwound from the arrow 102 as it rotates in the first direction, which allows the transverse member 110 and the anchors to move in response to the cable 104a. In this way, the system automatically moves the anchors 61a, 61b, 61c and 61 gives the sleeping position and the cross member 110 pulls the end of the mattress 40 to the footboard 22. A limit switch or other means can be used to stop the motor 100 when the anchors 61a, 61 b, 61c and 61 d and the mattress 40 reach the sleeping position.

To move the anchors 61a, 61b, 61c and 61d and the mattress 40 to the seating position, the direction of the motor 100 is reversed, so that the arrow 102 rotates in a second opposite direction. The cable 104b, according to the invention, is tensioned and pulls the transverse member 110 towards the arrow 102 and the cable 104a is unwound from the arrow 102. In this way, the process is reversed, so that the anchors move to the seating position and the mattress 40, which is attached to the transverse member 110, is pulled back. This automated retraction / extension mechanism can be used for the different described embodiments of the invention. However, the cross member 110 may not be attached to the mattress 40 for the folded support embodiments of the mattress support subassembly, so that the system would only move to the anchors and the mattress would be manually wrapped after the anchors were in the right position.

The arrow 102 extends the amplitude of the sofa and two pairs of cables 104a and 104b are each individually attached to a respective group of anchors on the corresponding side of the mattress support. Another alternative is to use two motors 100, one connected to one end of the arrow 102 that rotates synchronously to increase safety of operation and to handle the torque of the movement of the anchors and the mattress 40 between the sleeping and receiving positions. seat. 2. The Push / Placement Chain A second automatic retraction / extension mechanism is a chain system, which performs the same function as the cable mode that moves the anchors. The chain 112 comprises a plurality of interlocked connections, in which the chain has a front connection 116 and a rear connection 118. The front connection 116 is connected to the footboard 22 or the anchor 61 d and the remainder of the chain 112 is extends to the back 12 of the sofa 10 and subsequently around a side portion of the sofa 10, as shown in FIG. 15. The motor 100 drives an additional roller, which engages the connections 114 in the manner in which an additional roller engages the chain of a bicycle. As the additional roller rotates in a first direction, the chain 112 moves in such a way that the front connection 116 moves away from the back 12 of the sofa 10, which pushes the footboard 22 and the anchors 61a61 b, 61c and 61 d away from the back 12 of the sofa 10. Preferably, the motor and the additional roller are of sufficient size to push the footboard 22 into the sleeping position. It also contemplates the use of a track through the chain that is moved in such a way that the chain does not tilt, bend or move in a direction that is not parallel to the floor when the footboard is pushed 22 The motor also rotates in a second direction to move the footboard 22 to the seating position by the chain 112 when pulling on the footboard 22 toward the back 12 of the sofa 10.

Similar to the cable design, a limit switch can be used with the chain mode to stop the motor and the movement of the chain 112 when the anchors 61 a, 61 b, 61 c and 61 d reach the sleeping position. For proper operation and handling of the load, two engines and two chains can be used, in which one set is arranged on each side of the sofa 10.

G. Conversion of conventional sleeping sofas The present invention also encompasses systems for converting conventional mattresses and sleeping sofas into more comfortable sleeping surfaces. 1. Retro-fix The first conversion system is the retro-arrangement system, which adapts to conventional sofas to receive and support an air mattress. FIG. 17 illustrates a "retro" mode, which includes a mattress cover 51 for a conventional sofa mattress for sleeping using a shirt for holding the conventional mattress and placing an air chamber 53 inside the cover 51 above the conventional mattress. One version of this modality uses two shirts, one stacked on top of the other, in which the conventional sofa mattress and the air chamber are inserted. The conventional mattress is placed in the lower sleeve and the air chamber 53 is inserted in the upper sleeve. In this way, the user of a conventional sleeping couch can enjoy more comfort to sleep on an air mattress. In fact, the person using the retro can not feel the wire mesh and the tubes and hinges that extend longitudinally through the air chamber and the conventional mattress. The retro does not expose the air chamber to potential damage from the wire mesh on a conventional sleeping couch, because the mattress is arranged between the mesh and the chamber 53.

FIG. 18 is an illustration of another retro mode, an air mattress specifically designed to be used with a conventional sleeping couch structure. This mode uses an air mattress 40 having a mattress body 41 and a cover 51 including support material 55 disposed between the mattress body 41 and the surface of the conventional wire mesh structure. The support material 55 is connected to the cover 51 of the mattress 40 and placed between the mattress body 41 and the conventional sleeping sofa structure.

The support material 55 has sufficient strength to prevent the mattress body 41 from coming into contact with the wire mesh and from being damaged. The support material 55 must also be flexible to be folded and arranged within the conventional structure of the sofa to sleep in the seating position. To increase the flexibility of the support material 55, it can be sub-divided into individual panels 55a, 55b, 55c and 55d, for example, be sized such that the mattress body 41 can be folded along the fissures between the panels 55a , 55b, 55c and 55d. To protect the integrity of the support material 55, it can be covered on both sides with a thin layer 57 of a more rigid substrate such as a polymer or wood as shown in FIG. 19A. The foam is an acceptable material for the support material 55. In contrast to the first embodiment, this retro mode does not use the conventional mattress because the support material 55 protects the mattress body 41, which is the basic function of the mattress. conventional mattress in the first retro mode. Because this retro mode does not have the conventional mattress, its dimensions can be changed (for example, increase the length by 20 cm) so that queen-size dimensions can be used.

The cover 51 and the mattress body 41 used in the retro mode can be stored in a separate place, inflated or deflated, or deflated and folded on the sofa for sleeping. 2. Inflatable cover for a conventional mattress Another aspect of the present invention is a thin inflatable mattress cover for a conventional box spring and mattress, same as illustrated in FIG. 20. The mattress 40 includes a thin mattress body 41 with a cover 51 with a plurality of straps for connecting the mattress 40 to a conventional mattress. The mattress 40 is dimensioned to be arranged in a complementary manner on the conventional mattress, for example, the dimensions of a king size mattress, a queen size mattress, etc. The straps are tied under the bottom of the conventional mattress to keep the mattress 40 at the top to provide the sleeping surface. The person using the mattress 40 according to the invention is sleeping on an air surface and does not experience the annoyance of box springs of conventional mattresses. In this way, despite the discomfort of conventional mattresses, the mattress 40 makes them comfortable. One skilled in the art will also appreciate that the useful life of the mattress 40 can be extended the same as its comfort many years more compared to the normal life and use of a conventional mattress. The mattress 40, according to the invention, revitalizes the old mattress transforming it into a comfortable sleeping surface, regardless of the condition of the internal springs of the mattress.

Another aspect of the present invention is to use two different materials on each of the two opposite sleeping surfaces of the cover 51. One side can be exposed and sleep on it during the warm periods of the year and the other side for the colder periods. For example, one side of cover 51 uses cotton or yields for warmer nights and the opposite side uses flannel or wool. Additionally, all of the mattress body modes 41 described above in part IV.C of this document can be used in any of the retro arrangement modalities already described. 3. Assemble to sleep upside down Another aspect of the present invention is a sleeping sofa assembly that allows the sleeping sofa manufacturer to utilize the present invention. Referring now to FIG. 24, the sleeping sofa assembly shown is of appropriate dimensions to be received in a complementary manner within the body of a sleeping sofa. The illustrated sleeping sofa assembly 35 uses the four-panel version of the folded support mode as the mattress support sub-assembly. Of course, if desired, the other versions of the sub-assembly of the mattress support already discussed can be used.

The sleeping sofa assembly 35 adapted for use in a conventional sleeping sofa is a conventional sleeping assembly with a wire mesh or trampoline support structure (shown at number 170) that is modified to accept a mattress of air. The support leg 160 and the drive roller 164 are added to the conventional structure to prevent the structure 166 from collapsing to the structure 168 when the sleeping sofa assembly is in the seating position. When the sleeping sofa assembly 35 moves to the sleeping position, the lower part of the support leg 160 is pushed by the drive roller 164 as a hinge member 162 that rotates to be coplanar with the structure 168, So that the support leg 160 collapses to become substantially coplanar with the structure 168. The conventional sleeping couch is also modified by replacing the wire mesh or trampoline in the structure 166 with the straps 172.

The sleeping sofa assembly 35 can be shipped to manufacture conventional sleeping sofas and installed as a unit on the sofa to sleep during the manufacturing process. The sleeping sofa assembly 35 allows the manufacturer to use the present invention without requiring the specific development of the online production of the sleeping sofa assembly 35.

Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. However, it is intended that the description and examples be considered as illustrative purposes and not limit the scope of the invention in accordance with the spirit thereof set forth in the following claims.

Claims (11)

1. REVINDICATIONS mattress comprising: A. a chamber comprising: i. an upper surface with a pair of upper side bearing prevention portions located along the opposite lateral edges of the upper surface, ii. a bottom surface with a pair of lower side bearing prevention portions located along the opposite side edges of the bottom surface and ii. a side wall that is connected to the upper surface and the lower surface around the periphery of the upper and lower surfaces and comprises: a. a pair of opposite side wall portions, b. a side head portion passing through the pair of side wall potions and c. a side foot portion traversing the pair of side portions and the opposite upper side head portion, B. a portal in fluid communication with the camera that is movable between an open position to allow the fluid to move in or out of the chamber and a closed position to subject the chamber to a substantially hermetic pressure, OR a deflector defining a deflector plane that is substantially perpendicular to the pair of side wall portions, comprising: i. an upper edge connected to the upper surface, but not connected to the pair of upper lateral bearing prevention portions, ii. a lower edge connected to the lower surface, but not connected to the pair of lower lateral bearing prevention portions, iii. a first lateral edge and iv. a second lateral edge; so that, when the chamber is inflated, the upper lateral bearing prevention portion protrudes above the upper surface and the lower lateral bearing prevention portion protrudes from the bottom of the lower surface.
2. 2. The mattress according to claim 1, wherein the shortest distance between the first side edge of the baffle and the second side edge of the baffle is smaller than the length of the upper edge of the baffle and the lower edge of the baffle.
3. 3. The mattress according to any of claims 1 or 2, wherein the upper edge of the baffle is connected to the upper surface along the substantially complete length of the upper edge of the baffle and the lower edge of the baffle is connected to the bottom surface along the substantially complete length of the lower edge of the baffle.
4. 4. The mattress according to any of claims 1-3, wherein the baffle includes a plurality of openings.
5. 5. A seat support sub-assembly for use in a sleeping sofa that includes a substantially rigid seat base secured to the sofa, comprising: A. an exterior seat rail, B. an interior seat rail that is positioned in a manner separated from and substantially parallel to the outer seat rail and together with the outer seat rail, defines a seat support plane having a surface side of seat and a surface side for sleeping, OR a suspension member traversing the space between them. interior and exterior seat rails and D. at least two support rails, each of which: i. it is connected to the interior and exterior seat rails and ii. in the seat support plane, a significantly rigid structure is missing between the interior and exterior seat rails.
6. The seat support sub-assembly according to claim 5, wherein there are only two support rails connected to the inner and outer seating rails near the opposite ends of the inner and outer seating rails.
7. The seat support sub-assembly according to any of claims 5 or 6, wherein each of the support rails further comprises: A. a first terminal portion connected to the outer seat rail and extending out of the plane from seat support to the surface side for sleeping of the seat support plane, B. a second terminal portion connected to the inner seat rail and extending out of the seat support plane toward the sleeping surface side of the seat support plane and OR a support portion that is: i. connected to the first and second terminal portions, ii. placed below the seating plane when the seat support sub-assembly is in the seating position and iii. supported on the seat base when the seat support sub-assembly is in the seating position.
8. 8. The seat support sub-assembly according to claim 7, wherein the first end portion of each support rail further comprises a first cam surface which, when the seat support subassembly moves from one position to another. to sleep to the seating position, the first cam surface contacts a distal portion of the seat base located near the front of the sofa to force the seat support sub-assembly toward the back of the sofa.
9. 9. The seat support sub-assembly according to claim 8, wherein the distal portion projects upwardly from the seat base.
10. 10. The seat support sub-assembly according to any of claims 8 or 9, wherein: A. the seat base is substantially flat when the seat support subassembly is in the sleeping position and B. the distal portion is supported by hinges to the remnant of the seat base, so that the distal portion forms an angle of approximately 90 ° with the remainder of the base seat when the seat support assembly is in the seating position.
11. 11. The seat support sub-assembly according to any of claims 8-10, wherein the second terminal portion of each support rail further comprises a second cam surface, so that: A. when the sub-assembly of seat support moves from the sleeping position to the seating position, the second cam surface makes contact with a portion proximate to the seat base located near the back of the sofa to force the seat support sub-assembly. seat towards the front of the sofa and B. the support rails are located between the distal and proximal portions of the seat base to prevent the front and rear movement of the seat support sub-assembly when in the seating position. The seat support subassembly of any of claims 8-11, wherein the distal portion of the seat base further comprises a first top surface extending down and back of the seat plane, when the Sub-assembly of the seat plane is in the seating position. The seat support sub-assembly according to any of claims 5-12, wherein the suspension member comprises a plurality of substantially co-planar sinuous springs.