US1568348A - Folding bed - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 5 1926.Y 1,568,348

F. L. H. SIMS FOLDING BED Fired Dec. s, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 .w .m dm

Jan. 5 1926.

F. L. H. SIMS FOLDING BED' Filed Dec. 8, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Hai; w/ n;

\O 0:2.. H @u mv MM .mml @dov MM z .uw MM m U mw om Jan. 5 1926.

F. L. H. SIMS FOLDING BED Filed Dec. e, 1921 15 Sheets-Sheet 5 r illl n A 5./ fj d. Mu

, Huid? L W. QM QM @A INVENT B Patented Jan. 5, 1926.

UNITED STATES FREDERICK L. SIMS, OFVTORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA,

FOLDING BED.`

Application led December 8, 1921. Serial No. 520,986.

To all zo/0m t may concern.'

Be it known that I, FREDERICK L. H. SIMS, of the city of Toronto, in the county of York, Province of Ontario, Canada, a subject of the King of Great Britaimliave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Beds, of which the following is a specification.

This' invention relates to beds which are adapted to fold up to form a couch, and more particularly to that type in which the bed, when extended, `has its ends parallel to the back of the couch, and my object is to devise a simple, strong and easily constructed bed, which may be of full size when extended and which when folded will form a comfortable couch of normal proportions.

I attain my object by means of the constructions hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which f l Fig. 1 is a front` elevation of my improved folding bed partly broken away and partly in section; y

Fig. 2 a detail in end elevation, partly in section of parts of the bed illustrating more particularly the construction and mode of operation of the movable ends;

Fig. 3 an .elevation of part of the same showing more particularly the construction which enables the ends to be turned rearwardly;

Figs. 4 and 5 details illustrating the method of carrying the movable ends to enable them to be adjusted to different positions;

Fig. 6 a plan view of the bed partly in section and in the folded position;

Fig. 7 a vertical section of the extensible frame carrying the mattress frame;

Fig. 8 a plan view partly broken away of parts of the same;

Fig. 9 an end elevation of the same parts.;

Fig. 10 a side elevation of the bed partly in section and with the near end removed, the mattress frame being shown in dotted lines in extended position; i

Fig. 11 a front elevation of the spring head board;

Fig. 12 a front elevation, partly broken away and partly in section, illustrating the arrangement of the foot hoard and the legs carried thereby;

Fig. 1.3 a sectional detail of the same parts on a plane at right angles to Fig. 12; and

ig, 14: det-iii ,llHSlatng the method of supporting the inner end of the mattress frame on the fixed end members when the bed is extended.

In the drawings like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different gures.

The main frame or housing of the bed comprises end members 1 of any suitable form and suitably cross connected as, for example, by the cross brace 2, and a back 3 supported from the end members by means of metal brackets 4c, which are oifset inwardly as shown to provide sufficient space at each end for the side members of the mattress frame hereinafter described. This back can easily be upholstered in any suitable manner. s

The end members 1 are preferably provided with movable ends 5, which are adapted to assume either a vertical position as shown at the right hand side of Fig. 1, or a substantially horizontal position as shown at the left hand side of Fig. l with the surface which is then uppermost in substantial alinement with the upper surface of the seat 6 and which are supported as hereinafter described.

It isnlso desired that these ends shall be capable of being swung back out of the way by a vertical movement in a plane at right angles to the plane in which they normally stand. These movements are obtained by means of the following constructions. At the upper side of each fixed end member 1 is supported a carrying member 7. This carrying member is adapted to be swung rearwardly in a vertical plane to occupy a position substantially at right angles to that in which it normally lies. One method is to provide a hinged link 8 pivotally connected at one end to the top of the lixed member and at the other end to the under side of the carrying member 7. This link is normally received in a recess formed in the upper side of the fixed end member and is located adjacent the inner end of the carrying member, its position being such that the carrying member will either lie flat on top of the end member as shown in Figs. l and 2 of the `drawings in full lines, or turned up on end'as indicated .in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The movable end may thus be swung back out of the way .by turning up the carrying member.

To the carrying member the movable end 5 is connected by means @i a pair of liasfaY llO links 9 (see particularly Figs. t and 5). Each link is'pivotally connected at one end to the carrying` member 7 and at the other to the under side of the movable end. These links are received in recesses formed in the carryiirg` members and are so proportioned and positioned that the movable member may be brought to the position shown in full` lines in Fi or swung;` down to the position shownin dotted lines in the same figure, in either positionlresting flatlyY on the top of the fixed end member.

Under some circumstances it mayv be desirable to have` the mo vable end. member held in an inclined position as shown in Fig. 4.. T his isfreadilv effected by providinggza shoulder=10 on the top of the carrying member against which the outer corner of the movable end. member may engage as shown.

Tlvhen the n'iovable ends are in their normal vertical position itis desirable to lock theinto the bac-k 3 sotl at simple outward pressure against them will not displace them. For' this purpose I provide at cach end of the back a projecting arm 11 having a notch formed therein with which a pin 12 extendingi'earivardlv from thevmovable end. may1 be engaged. To release the end it must be slightljrr lifted as it isswung outwardly. It is desirable to lock the carrying' members? down in place on the xed ends when the bed is` folded. F r thispurpose secure to each carrying member a forwardl' facingliooklS, which is adaptedto be partly reeeivedin the notch 19 formed in the top of the fixed ends, thus resisting lateral displacement of the carrying member. A. partI Si@ of theextension frame 18 is adap'tedto titf overf the end of the hook 18,Vwhentlie frafme is. pushed into itsflimit,and thus `the carrying` membersare firmly locked down and braeedragainst strains tendingA to rock them transverselyv on the fixed ends, sec Fig.

The mattress frame in this bed comprises three' sections 13, 11 nd 15, the sides of whicliiare hinged .together at 16 and-17, the pivots orihinge pins being` integral with the sides of the intermediate section'll (see particularly Figs. (l, 7. S, 9 and 10. This: seetional mattress frame or truck'-ispivota-lly supported on an extension frame 18 which is slida-ble between the fixed ends 1 of the bed. This truck comprises afront and rearvardlyv extending members 19 secured to the front and preferably',Y braced therefrom by the triangular plates 20. The rearward ends of these reafwardlvvv extending members are connected by a cross bar 21 and rollers 22 are suitably connected with the frontv of the extension frame and the cross bar 21 to facilitate the extension of the fra-meto the position .shown in dotted lines in Fig. 10. The firm" :of` shapedmetal member 23the upperr ends of `the frame supports the U` which are slightlyol'fset rearwardly and are pivotally connected with the mattress frame by the same pivots 1G which form the hinges between the outer section 1 3 of the mattress frame and the intermediate section 14. `W-hen the bed is folded and the truck pushed into position between the end members 1 as shown-in full linesin Fig. 1() the inner section of the mattress frame rests upon the cross bar 21. conneetingthe rearwardly ef;- tendingcmembers 19 ofthe truck. rfhe intern'ie inte men'iber 1-1 then occupies a substantialliv vertical position belowl the pivot 1G, while the outer member' of the mattress frau'ielies in a substantiallg.v horizontal postimrbehiiul the pivot 1G. When in this position, this part of the mattress frame supported by means of thefolded mattress employed with the bed, the lhead rest hereinafter described and finally, if the frame section is` sufficiently depressed by the rule joints al the p'vots ltlialso hereinafter referred to;v

Late-calli` extendingpins 2li are provided on-thel sides'ofithe inner section of the mattress frame and blocks 25 or other supports are connected with the inner sides of the fixed ends 1' of the bed frame on which the pinsQll rest when the bed is extended and the inner section is in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 9.

@ver the rearward blocks Q5 are supported the. keepers 26 which serve to prevent the inner part of the mattress fravn'ie being'tilted upwardly when the bed is inusc. rlhese blocks are preferably formed of metal plates offset to space their upper edgesl from the main iframe. while the pins adjacent the intermediate section of the mattress frame are formed with lips overhang'ing the upper edges of the blocks so that therv canslip ott if an)T strains are exertedlendto-springl apart the sides of (he main frame. 'llhe' rearward pins mai7- be similari)Y v,formed though the need is materially less, asthe rear part ofthe frame tied b v the back Lhemattress frame is formedof metal angle bars o1' T-sectiou, with preferablj,v a` slight'variation in the case of the intermediate section, the stems of the angle bars being.inwardlivv directed and haring` the: lieto ible metallic mattress fabric 31, which ma),y be of'y any ordinai f' construction. secured thereto bv means of the usual4 tension springs. The flanges of' the ends of the outer sections are vformed integral with the flanges of the sides of the adjacent section, but the stems are divided, overlapped and secured together, thus forminga strong, rigid corner. rhe pivots 16 and 1T ae in alinement with the stems of the Tsections. as1shownparticularl)v in Figs. T, 9 :and 1.0 ofA the drawings. 1With this arrangement the strain exerted by the springs of the metallic mattress fabric acts in the same plane or planes as the axes yof the pivots whether the bed is open or closed or in any intermediate position, and the pull being thus always in the planes of the stems of the T-sections7 the twisting effect on the mattress frame which exists with L-shaped sections is avoided.

I am further enabled, as will be seen particularly on reference to Figs. 7 and 9, to make the pivots of ample size without unduly weakening the side members of the frame, and I am further enabled to secure rule joints between the sections of muchV greater strength than has been heretofore possible. At the joints, it will be noted, the stems of the Tfseetions of the mattress frame sections 13 and 15 are cnt away to make room for the pivots and that the shoulders 27 formed on the sides of the intermediate mattress section andwhich is adapted to engage the stemr of the adjacent T-angle member is sufficiently distant from the centre of the pivot to give itan effective bearing against the stem and thus make a strong joint when the sections are in alinement.

` The fianges of the sides of the intermediate section are also preferably out away to form the shoulders 28 which engage the stems of the adjacent T-angles when the bed is fol-ded. It will be noted that the stein of the T at each end ofthe sides of the intermediate mattress frame section extends aast the pivot, which it may do since the pivot is 'integral with theside,y sufficiently far to meet the stem of the sides ofthe adjacent sections when the mattress frame is e2;- tended. I can thus secure my mattress tal `ric to the sides of the mattress frame sections exactly in line with the pivots, `which eliminates objectionable bulging ot the fabric when the mattress frame is folded. The side members of the intern'icdiate section of the mattress frame are also preferably formed with a greater thickness of material in the flange than the T-sections of which the other partsfof the mattress frame are formed, thus further increasing the strength ofthe joints and giving the shoulders 27 and 28 a wide bearing` on the stems of the adjacent T-sections. In this intermediate section the exact T-form is departed from, the T-form being found at the ends only, while the center is of L-section. The two forms of section merge into one another gradually y one leg of the L-section being integral with and also in alinement with the stems of the T-sections. The other leg of the L-section is deepened to maintain the stiffness and strength of the member.

By this construction the pivots 16 may be brought closer to the front than is otherwise possible without. interference between the side members of the section and the horns of This means that "foot board.

'beard be frictionally held in its folded down the depth of the bed from back to front when folded, and particularly the overhang and width of the seat may be somewhat reduced which is a desideratuin.

The operation of extending and folding the bed is substantially as follows. The movable ends 5 are swung out of the way and the truck is then pulled forward, usually by placing the hands on the seat 6 which is connected with the mattress frame as hereinafter described, and exerting a for ward pressure. The truck slides forward between the fixed ends and this movement is continued until the keeper 29 secured to the cross bar 2l of the truck engages beneath the cross brace 2 of the main frame. The lifting handle is thus exposed and is puller upon and the outer section 13 of the mattress frame is thus swung upwardly until is alined in a vertical position rvith the intermediate section le. `rI`he rule joints of the pivots 16 then prevent further relative movement between the outer and intermediate sections. rilhe movement of the outer section is continued and the inter, mediate section then swings on the pivots 7. The inner section swings on the pivots 7 until the further relative movement of the two sections is prevented by the rule joints of the pivots l?. rIhe movement of the outer section is still continued and the inner and intermediate sections are thus swung up to a horizontal position with the pins 2t on the inner section in front. of the blocks 25. The mattress frame is then pushed rearwardly until the pins or projections 2st thereon engage over lthe rearward blocks and under the keepers QG. The inner end of the mattress frame is then firiniy supported in the horizontal position.

rihe outer end of the outer section is supported by suitable legs. In the arrangement shown these legs are carried by the arms 3B on which the foot board 32 is carried7 these arms 3S being hinged at each side of the section on the blocks 34; secured to the mattress frame. A cross bar 35 preferabiy connects these brackets forming a fixed foot board. The legs are hinged on the arms 38 so a to swing transversely of the bed. lihen the bed is being` folded the foot board is hinged down to engage vand hold the mattress employed with the bed and when the foot board is in this position the legs are swung up and entend longitudinally of the bed and may thereafter more or be moved to extend transversely of the bed. lVhen the bed is extended and the movable fcot board is raised to the vertical position, the legs "swing inwardly by gravity until restrained i by the stops 3T carried by the legs which engage the arms 33 which vcarry the fixed It is desirable that the foot esiticn so that it retains its grip on the Zea mattress and bed clothes, as the bed is folded.

For this purpose l stamp a tit 46 on each arm 33, which is adapted to spring into a recess 47 formed in the corresponding bracket 34 when the foot board is folded down and which will spring out vagain when a moderate degree of force is applied to swing the foot board up again.

rllhe bed is Vprovided with a headboard which comprises an elliptic spring 3S supporting a transverse member 39. These parts are preferably so proportioned that when the bed is folded, the cross transverse member 39 engages the dxed part of the foot board and compresses the elliptical spring 38 so that when the extension frame is pulled forward, the spring 38 tends to lift the inner end of the outer section of the mattress frame, thus facilitating the opening of the bed.

The great strain of the tension springs of the mattress fabric 3l necessitates the provision of a cross brace adjacent the point of connection of the inner and intermediate mattress frame sections, but this brace must, when the bed is in use, be well below the plane of the mattress fabric to allow for the sagwhichnecessarily takes place when weight is put on the mattress and, when the bed is folded, the brace must lie in the very small space between the under side of the mattress frame section and the fioor. therefore employ a U-shaped brace 40, the ends ot' which are pivoted at il on the sides of the inner section 15 of the mattress frame. To ensure this lbrace folding up when the bed is folded I connect thereto one end of a coil spring d2, the other end of which is connected with the end of the mattress frame section l5. This spring tends to maintain the brace parallel to the under side of the mattress fabric, while it is sufliciently elastic to permit the brace to swing down readily when weight. is placed on the fabric 3l.

Owing to the sag which takes place in the mattress fabric 3l when weight is placed upon it as hereinbefore referred to, it is impossible to employ a continuous solid front for the extension frame 18, and a gap must be provided at the upper side of the front` which in the ordinary type of divanette, is usually filled with a piece of ieXible fabric. This construction I find undesirable, and l employ in lieu thereof a front board l?) hinged at its lower edge to the fixed part of the front of the extension frame. This front, when the bed is folded, is held in al vertical position by a chain 44 secured to the front and to the outer section of the mattress frame. lVhen this outer section is swung outwardly, the chain is slackcned and the hinged front allowed to fall. Its fall, however, will not take place until the seat has dropped to the position f vshown in dotted lines in Fig. l0. The seat is connected with the 4outer section Vof the mattress frame to hinge down so that it does not in any way interfere with the sagging of the mattress fabric 3l when weight is placed thereon. lVhen the bed is folded the seat falls naturally to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1C'.

The method of extending the bed has been hereinbefore described and,when the bed is so extended, as the movable ends 5 have been swung outwardly and then rearwardly hereiubefore described to bring them substantially parallel to the wall, the sides of 'he bed are. left open and unobstructed as an ordinary bed. The bed is folded by erersing the process of extension.

A folding bed constructed substantially as described possesses the following advantages. rlhe device may be used as an ordinaij. sofa when the movable ends are in their normal vertical position, and when so used is .scarcely distinguishable from an ordinary sofa owing to the close tit between the seat and the bach and ends. At the same time if anyone desires to use the sofa to recline upon, one or both movable ends may be dropped to the horizontal position. Wlhcn the de vice is used as a bed these ends will usually be required to be swung back entirely out of the way as their fit is so close to the seat as to prevent the pulling out of the etellSlll l'lllfle.

Owing to the specific construction of the niattfess frame of T-angle bars with the fabric lying in the same horizontal plane with the axes of the ljoints when the `bed is open, and in three planes at right angles to one another when the bed is closed, the tendency of the frame to wind or tw-ist when opening or closing is practically elimiatcd. As the mattress frame is formed of three sections only, with its major sections similar, the cost of the frame is kept down to a minimum. The mattress frame, being supported on an extension frame which is readily disconnectible from the Amain frame, the handling of thedevice is greatly facilitated either for shipping or storing orfor installation in the apartment in which it is to be used. lVith the present construction no springs are employed which `are essential to theopening and shutting of the bed. The device is compact so that I am able to keep the seat low and not too deep from back to front, and the bed when extended fairly high. l am also enabled to employ a fixed back which does not require to be moved or interfered with in the Voperation of the bed. The back being fixed, the whole of the main frame or housing may be made substantial and rigid.

What l claim as my invention is l= ln a folding bed, the combination of a housing and a truck slidable relative to the housing; a mattress frame pivotally connected intermediate ofk its ends to the forward part of the truck and formed in three sections hinged to one another; projections on the inner mattress frame section; and supports on the rearward part of the housing adapted to support the inner section lof the mattress frame when the bed is extended and the truck pushed in to bring the proj ections over the supports.

2. Inl a folding bed; the combination of a housing and a truckslidable relative to the housing; afmattress frame pivotally connected intermediate of its ends to the forward part of the truck and formed in three sections vhinged to one another by rule joints; legs carried bythe outer mattress frame section adapted to rest on the floor when the bed is extended; projections on the inner mattress frame section; and supports onY the housing adapted to be engaged by said projections to support the inner section of the mattress frame. when the bed is extended and the truck pushed in to bring the projections over the supports. y y

3. In a foldingbed; the combination of a housing and a truck slidable relative to the housing; a mattress frame pivotally connected intermediate of its ends 'to the forward part of the truck and formed in three sections hinged to one anotherl by rule joints; legs carried by the outer mattress frame section adapted to rest on the floor when the bed is extended; projections on the inner mattress frame section; supports on the housing adapted to be engaged by said projections to support the inner section of the mattress frame when the bed is extended and the truck pushed in to bring the projections over the supports; and keepers over said supports preventing upward movement of said projections.

It. In a folding bed; a sectional mattress frame having its sides formed substantially of T angle bars similarly arranged in each section; the flanges of the sides of the sections being pivoted together by pivots positioned in alinement with'the stems of the Ts, said stems being cut away adjacent to the pivots, a shoulder being formed on the fiange of the side of a section at each joint adapted to engage the stem of the side of the adjacent section to form a rule joint.

5. In a folding bed, a sectionalmattress frame having its sides formed substantially of T angle bars similarly arranged in` each section` the ianges of the sides of the secttions being pivoted together by pivots posiytioned in alinement with the stems of the Ts, the stein of the side of one section at each joint being cut away to clear the adj acentfpivot and the stem of the side of the adjacent section extending past the axis of the pivot to substantially contact with the first mentioned stem when the sections are in alinement.

6. A sec-tional mattress frame constructed substantially asset forth in claim 6 in which the pivots are integral with the sides of the section in which the stems of the Ts overlap the pivots and the overlapping parts of the stems are also integral with the sides.

F.In a folding bed; a sectional mattress frame having its sides formed substantially of T angle bars similarly arranged in each section, the flanges of the sides of the sections being pivoted together by pivots positioned in alinement with the stems of the Ts, the stem of the side of one section at each joint being cut away to clear the adjacent pivot, and the iiange of the side of the adjacent section being formed with spaced shoulders adapted to engage opposite sides of the stem aforesaid to limit the kswing of the sections upon one another in either direction.

8. In a folding bed, the combination of a main frame formed of two parts slidably connected; the forward part including a U- shaped member with upwardlyv extending arms; a mattress frame pivotally connected, intermediate of its ends, tothe ends of the U- shaped member and formed in three sections hinged to one another; abent cross brace pivotally connected at its ends to the sides of the inner section adjacent its point of connection withthe intermediate section; and spring means connected to said brace and to the mattress frame tending to draw the brace to a position parallel to the mattress frame.

9. In a folding bed, the combination of a supporting frame; a folding mattress frame carried thereby; a bent cross brace pivotally connected at its ends to opposite sides of the mattress frame; and a coil spring connected to said brace and to the mattress fiame tending to draw the brace to a position parallel to the mattress frame.

10. In a folding bed, the combination of a U-shaped'supporting member with upwardly extending arms and a mattress frame formed in three sections hinged to one another and pivotally connected with the arms aforesaid by means of pivots substantially co-axial with the hinge joints between two of the mattress frame sections; the end sections having their sides formed of T-angle bars, each side of the middle section being formed of T-section while in its middle portion the head of the T is displaced in a. direction away from the transverse part of the U-shaped member, whereby said transverse part may contact with the sides of the middle sections approximately in a plane intersecting the pivots between the sides of the section.

ll. In a foldinU bed; a frame; a fixed end member on the rame; an lextension frame movable in a direction parallel to the said end member; a movable end; a carrying CII lllll member for the movable endso' connected to the fixed end that it is swingable thereon in a vertical plane; a hook secured to the undersideof said carrying member; and a part on the extension iframe engageablewith the hook when the extension frame is pushed in to hold down the said carrying member.

l2. ln a folding bed; a frame; a iixed end member on the frame; an extension vframe movable-in a direction parallel to the said end member; a movable end; a carrying member for themovable'end so connected to the i'ixed end that it is swingable there` on in a vertiealplane; a hook secured to the underside of said carrying member; and a part on' the extension frame engageabl'e with the hook when the extension frame is pushed into hold down the said carrying men'ibe'r, a notch being` forn'ied in the fixed eiid 'to partly receive the hook;`

13. In a folding bed; the combination of a housii'ig provided' with ixed ends; a truck slidabl'e into and out of the housing; a seat supported on the truck and extending above the iixed ends when the truck is positioned within the housing; movable end members for the housing; and hinged' connections for ing fixed' end'inember and the other of said' sides pressed against the end of the seat'.

14. In a folding bed, the combination of a housing `provided with fixed ends; a truck slidable into and outl ot the housing; a seat supported on the truck and extending above the fixed ends when the truckis positioned within the housing; carrying members for movable end 'members each supported on one of the fixed end members so that it may lie horizontally thereon or be swung back to a vertical position; movable end members for said housing; and hinged connections between the movable end members and the carrying members proportioned to enable each o the movable end members to be swung` to lie with either of two adjacent sides resting on the corresponding carrying member and the other of said sides pressed against the end of the seat.

Signed at Toronto, Canada, this 24th day of November; 1921'.

FREDERCK L. H. SIMS.

Images