US1381293A - Convertible furniture - Google Patents

Description

J FREEMAN. CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 17. 1920.

1,381,293. I Patented June 14, 1921.

2 SHEE.'SSHEET l.

INVENTOR 756 Free? 6/;

-,, 0 BY 1H /9 125/ 521 134.11 63% ATTORNEYS J. FREEMAN.

CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE.

AP LICAT'ON FILED APR-17,1920. 1,381,293. PatentedJune 14, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

INVENTOR 7 0 Frcem a 0 ATTORNEWS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN FREEMAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO SAVE-A-ROOM FURNITURE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 14, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN FREEMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at 2 East 181st street, New York city, in the county of Bronx, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Furniture; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the inven tion, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to convertible furniture and particularly to couches, sofas, cots and similar furniture which may be converted from day furniture into beds or' the like, and, by simple and efficient means, enlarged as from single to double width.

Heretofore, in furniture capable of being converted from day to night use, it has been the practice to extend the length or width by means of folding sections hinged at adjacent edges, of to lower the back to form one of the mattress sections, or to slide the extensible section from underneath the fixed section. In these constructions considerable physical effort is required to convert the fur niture, and often, in the case of beds, either the mechanism is complicated or the two sections do not lie in the same plane when opened out. In some cases, also, two people arerequired to convert it, and sometimes the furniture must be pulled away from the wall for opening it out.

In accordance with one part of my invention, the convertible furniture, whether folding or otherwise, comprises a combined reversible base section and a collapsible section, said collapsible section arranged to be superimposed upon the base section for compactness and sightliness in day use, and opened out in juxtaposition to and in substantially the same plane with the base section to produce a double width bed comparable in comfort and appearance with the ordinary bed, the combined base and col lapsible sections being provided with anovel reversing means and said sections connected by mechanism which is constructed and arranged to assist the raising movement or retard the falling movement, or both, when the collapsible section is changed from one position of rest, that is, superposed upon the base section, to the other position of rest, that 1s, fully opened out from the base section. In the specific embodiments hereinafter disclosed, the mechanism connecting the sections includes at each end springactuated link mechanism comprising a pail of links and a spring connected thereto so as to be stressed when the collapsible section 1s 1n either position of rest, thereby materially reducing the physical effort required to change the position of the collapsible section from either position of rest to the other.

In the accompanying ing the invention in ample, to two forms drawings illustratapplication, as an exof couch beds in which a collapsible section is guided in movements of substantial parallel translation with the assistance of a spring and connecting mechanism at each end to a juxtaposed position in substantially the same plane with the base section to form a double width bed.

F gure 1 is a perspective view of a reversible couch bed with a back converted for day use as a couch; Fig. 2 is a perspective view thereof in reversed position, showing the frame work of the head pieces or arms in lowered position, and showing, in broken lines, the collapsible section opened out; Fig. 3 shows the base and collapsible sections thereof in two positions during reversal; Fig. 4 is a section on line 44. of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary end view of the section opened out; Fig. 6 is a perspective View of a form of couch bed, without a back, in which the base section is stationarily supported on legs; Fig. 7 is similar to Fig. 6 but shows the collapsible section partly opened out; Fig. 8 is similar to Fig. 6 but shows the collapsible section fully opened out; Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary end view of the sections opened out; and Fig. 10 is a section on line 10l0 of Fig. 9.

In both embodiments, the base section 1 and the collapsible section 2 each consist of frames having longitudinal angle irons 3 and end angle irons 4 joined together. These sections are connected at their respective ends by mechanism comprising bell crank levers 5 journaled on pivot pins 6 near the inner corners of the collapsible section, and on pivot pins 7 near the median line of the base section; bell crank levers 8 journaled on pivot pins 9 near the outer corners of the base section-and on pivot pins 10 near the median line of the collapsible section; and springs 11 secured to the bell crank arms 12 and 13 of the levers 5 and 8. When the collapsible section 2 is superimposed upon the base section 1, or when opened out in juxtaposition thereto, the levers 5 and 8 are in an inclined position in which the distance between the ends of the bell crank arms 12 and 13 is greatest, thus stressing springs 11 and tending through the levers 5 and 8 to assist in raising the collapsible section from either position of rest and opposing its fall to the base section or to the floor. During these changes of position, the levers 5 and 8 guide the collapsible section in movements of translation, or more specifically in movements of substantial parallel translation, the collapsible section moving bodily in a substantially vertical direction in initially rising from and finally descending to either position of rest. This movement permits the furniture to stand closely against the wall, and also makes it possible to fasten the supporting legs 14 permanently and rigidly to the collapsible section without interfering with the closing of the latter upon the base section in superimposed relation, or reversing the base and collapsible sections even when the couch bed has a back. Supporting brackets 15 are riveted to the end angle irons 1 of the base section to receive the levers 5 and support the inner end of the collapsible section when opened out. (See Figs. 1, 5, 9 and 10.)

In the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 5, the base and collapsible sections are, when in superimposedrelation, reversible on the base of the couch, and are adapted to be seated thereon with either side uppermost, substantially as disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 297,056 filed May 14, 1919. The base of the couch consists of an open rectangular frame of wood havingllongitudinal stringers 16, cross pieces 17, end-sup-' porting rails 18, and legs 19. Hinged to the ends of the base of the couch are head pieces or arms 20, which may be raised and lowered by any suitable mechanism, as for instance the mechanism forming the subject matter of my Letters Patent No. 1,334,365 issued March 23, 1920. The base section 1 carries end-supporting members 21 which, together with the end rails 18, provide a sliding pivotal connection between the base section 1 and the base of the couch. The reversing mechanism connecting each end of the base section to the baseeof the couch consists of pairs of links 22 and 23, one pivoted to the end-supportin members 21 at 21, and the other to the base of the couch at 25, the springs 26 being connected between the links 23 and the base of the ('tCll to assist in raising the base and collapsible sections for reversing them, and to oppose their fall after reversal. (See Fig.3.)

'The end-supporting members 21, connected to the base section 1 by bolts 27, are offset by spacing sleeves 28 and blocks 29, and are recessed at 30, to provide clearance for the free movement of the levers 5 and 8. (See Fig. 1.) A guide plate 31 is riveted in the recess 30 of the end-supporting members 21 and engages the inside of the endsupporting rails 18 to prevent lateral displacement of the links and levers during the reversing and converting movements. To further support the collapsible section, a strip of wood 32 is fastened to the under side of the base section at the outer edge thereof adjacent the collapsible sectionwhen the latter is opened out to form a ledge upon which the inner edge of the collapsible section rests. (See Fig.

Fastened in the frame of eachsection is a flat wire spring (not shown) which serves in the base section as a resilient support for the upholstered cushions 33 on top thereof, and for the mattress 31 on the bottom, and in the collapsible section as a resilient support for the mattress 35. The base and collapsible sections are held together during the reversing movement-s by a strap 36 secured to the frame of the base section. Pivoted near the ends of the collapsible section are piHow-supporting frames 37 which may be swung down upon the mattress 35, to hold the mattress in position when the sections are reversed. When either frame 37 is released from the latch 38 for the holding spring 35) and thrown up to the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 2 against the stop 10, it serves to support the pillows for night use.

To reverse the couch bed from day to night use or vice versa, it is merely necessary to give the reversible unit, comprising the base and collapsible sections, an. upward pull from the front of the couch, whereupon the pivot pins 24 are guided upwardly by the links 23 upon combined actions of the operator and the springs 26,and the reversible unit is guided by the end-supporting members 21 sliding and rolling on the rails 18 as indicated in Fig. 3. When the reversible unit falls, its downward movement is opposed by the springs 26 as they become stressed. Neither the back 11 nor the legs 14 interfere with the reversing movement and the head pieces or arms 20 may be lowered, if desired, to an adjusted position before or afterward. hen the reversible unit is in the position shown in Fig. E2, the device may be used as a single width bed, or the collapsible section may be moved to the broken line position in juxtaposition to and in substantially the same plane with the base section by first unfastening the strap 36 and then pulling the collapsible section forward from the front by means of the handle 42, the collapsible section initially rising and finally falling in a substantially vertical direction and passing through the intermediate position shown in Fig. 7 in movements of substantial parallel translation. The springs 11 are stressed when the collapsible section is in either position of rest. In assisting the operator at the beginning of the movement from either position and retarding the falling movement to the other position, by passing through an unstressed condition in the intermediate position (illustrated in Fig. 7), the springs materially reduce the physical effort required and reduce the shock and noise.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 6 to 10, the base section 1 is stationarily supported on the legs 43. Since the sections do not reverse, the-strap 36 and, if desired, the pillow-supporting frames 37 of the first embodiment mav be omitted. To further simplify the construction, the ledge 32 of the first embodiment may be omitted, the col-. lapsible section, when extended, being supported by the legs 14 and the brackets 15 receiving the links 5. The sections have flatmattress springs (not shown) and the mattresses 44 and 45 are placed thereon.

The collapsible section 2 is provided with a handle 46 and moves from the superimposed position shown in Fig. 6 to the extended position shown in Fig. 8, and vice versa, through the in termediate position shown in Fig. 7, in the same way as previously described with respect to the first embodiment.

cover over the device when the collapsible section is superimposed on the base section renders it sightly and useful for day use.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is: v

1. In convertible furniture, a base section, a collapsible section adapted to be superimposed upon and opened out in juxtaposition to and in substantially the same plane with said base section, and pairs of bell crank levers connected to pivotal points on respective ends of said base and collapsible sections to guide said collapsible section, relative to saidbase section, in movements of parallel translation when the position of said collapsible section is changed and a spring connected to said bell crank levers to assist the raising movement and to retard the falling movement during the change of position.

2. In convertible furniture, a base section, a collapsible-section arranged to be superimposed upon and opened out in juxtaposition to and in substantially the same plane with the base section, and a support for the collapsible section when opened out comprising a ledge which is carried by the base secwith the base section,

tion and upon which the collapsible section rests and links connected to pivotal points near each inner corner of the collapsible section and brackets carried by the base section near the outer corners thereof for supporting said links.

3. In convertible furniture, a base section, a collapsible section arranged to be superimposed upon and opened out in juxtaposition to and in substantially the same plane an end supporting member on said base section, a link connected to pivotal points on the base and collapsible sections, a recess in said end supporting member to permit said link to move freely to the inner inclined position when the collapsible section is superimposed upon the base section and to the outer inclined position when the collapsible section is opened out, and a guide in said recess arranged to preclude the lateral movement of the sections throughout the change from one position to the other.

4. In convertible furniture, a reversible body comprising a combined main secton and collapsible section, said collapsible section adapted to be superimposed upon and opened out in juxtaposition to and in substantially the same plane with said main section, pairs of hell crank levers connected to pivotal points on respective ends of said main and collapsible sections to guide said collapsible section, relative to said .main section, in movements of parallel translation when the position of said collapsible section is changed, and a spring connected to said bell crank levers to assist the raising movement and to retard the falling movement during the changing of position.

5. In convertible furniture a reversible body, comprising a combined main section and collapsible section, said collapsible section adapted to be superimposed upon and opened out in juxtaposition to and in substantially the same plane with the main section, a support for the collapsible section when opened out comprising a ledge which is carried by the base section and upon which the collapsible section rests and links connected to pivotal points near each inner corner of the collapsible section and brackets carried by the base section near. the outer corners thereof for supporting said links.

6. In convertible furniture. a supporting base, a reversible body adapted to be seated on said base with either side uppermost, said body comprising a main section and an extensible and collapsible section, double-ended supporting members carried by the body at its respective ends to form moving fulcrums, vertically movable pivot connections between the base and the body, and springs assisting in the elevation of the vertically movable pivot connections during the movement of the fulcrums in one direction and opposthe vertically movable pivot connections during the movement of the fulcrums in the other direction as the body is turned for reversing.

7 In convertible furniture, a supporting base, a reversible body adapted to be seated on said base with either side uppermost, said body comprising a main section and an extensible and collapsible section, a doubleended moving fulcrum between the base and the body, pivots carried by the body at its respective ends, a plurality of links connected to each of the pivots and the base, springs connected between the base and the links so as to tend to raise the body from the base ing the fall of turned for reversing,

during the movement of the fulcrum in one direction and to oppose the fall of the body to the base during the movement of the fulcrum in the other direction as the body is pairs of bell crank levers connected to pivotal points on respective ends of said main section and collapsible section for extending said collapsible section, and a spring connected to said bell crank levers to assist the raising movement and to retard the falling movement of said collapsible section during the changing of position.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

JOHN FREEMAN.

Images