US1946822A - Studio couch frame - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 13, 1934. C. H TURNER 1,946,822

STUDIO COUCH FRAME Filed June 17, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VEN TOR TTORNE YJ Feb. 13, 1934. c. H. TURNER STUDIO COUGH FRAME 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 17, 1935 F I G. 4

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Feb. 13, 1934.

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E1n/umm Patented Feb. 13, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STUDIO COUCH FRAME land Application June 17, 1933. Serial No. 676,352

Claims.

This invention relates to studio couch beds generally and is directed to that type known as extensible or slidable couch beds.

More particularly, it relates to the frame of that 5 type of bed or couch which is constructed in two substantially coextensive sections and which may be telescoped one within the other and used for a sofa or couch but which may be opened to form a double bed.

l0 Many constructions of extensible beds have been used. Usually the outer or upper frame member carries suitable supporting springs and a permanently fixed mattress in addition to a movable mattress which latter is adapted to be V removed from the fixed mattress and fitted in position on the extensible portion of the frame and springs when the latter are in the open or extended position. Couches of this type are sometimes separable into two distinct beds. The present invention is directed especially to the mechanism by which the movable section of the couch bed is moved to the open or closed position, i. e. extended or retracted. Previously to the present improvement actuating means have included such as the following. In one form the movable mattress is mounted on'a frame constituting a lever pivoted on the fixed section and connected to the movable section, so that lmovement of the upper mattress opens or closes the couch. In another arrangement there is a hand lever mounted adjacent the end of the couch, projecting upwardly and adapted to be swung forwardly or rearwardly to open or close the couch.

The primary object of this invention is to provide simplified and inconspicuous means for extending and telescoping the couch sections.

Another object is to provide automatic means for extending the couch and for telescoping one section within the other.

Still another object is to provide mechanism for guiding the movable section of the couch to maintain its proper course during movement.

A feature of the present invention is that it has a tiltable trackway carried by the stationary section of the couch which serves to cause relative movement of the couch sections.

One feature of advantage resides in apparatus in which sections which are mechanically opened or closed also are quickly detachable to provide independent sections.

Another advantageous feature of the invention is the easily accessible means for tilting the trackway to cause relative movement of the couch sections.

Yet another feature of the invention is an automatically extensible studio couch which may be separated to form a pair of twin beds when desired.

The above and further objects of the invention will be hereinafter apparent.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 illustrates a rear side elevation of the preferred form of the couch, showing the connecting links between the operating mechanism at the opposite ends of the couch;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged end view of the couch shown in Fig. 1, looking at the right hand end in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 showing the end frames of the two 70 sections completely telescoped;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the two couch frames showing the movable section partially telescoped within the stationary section substantially as ln Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the improved couch shown in Fig. 1; A

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the two sections showing a slightly modified form of construction which is designed to facilitate the separation of the two couch frames;

Fig. 'I is a front view of the slightly modified form of couch illustrated in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an end view of a still further modified form of the couch in which operating mechanism is provided at only oneend;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view showing the operating mechanism taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the modified form of the couch of Fig. 4, taken on the line 10-10, showing the end which does not contain the operating mechanism, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view of the modified form of couch shown in Figs. 8, 9, and 10, taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 12 shows a sectional View of the end of the couch of Fig. 11 with the frame in completely extended position.

Like reference characters identify like parts throughout the drawings.

With more particular reference to the drawings, it is seen that the subject matter of this invention comprises a pair of relatively movable 105 couch frames adapted to be telescoped one within the other to form a single or double bed as may be desired, as is well known in the art.

In the forms of the invention illustrated in the drawings, a stationary frame 1 is provided having 110 an upper rectangular frame portion and provided with suitable springs 1f* and legs 2 adapted to rest upon the floor and maintain this section of the couch stationary. Slightly smaller in size and adapted to telescope within the stationary couch section 1 is provided a movable couch section 3, likewise having suitable springs 3a, and having legs 4 which have casters or rollers 5 mounted at the lower ends of the legs to permit sliding of the movable section across the floor. The legs may be of any suitable material but are illustrated as of angle iron. It is noted that the movable section, although substantially the same width as the stationary section, is slightly shorter so that it may slide in between the legs 2 ofA the stationary section. Extending between the legs 2 of the stationary section at each end of the couch is a stationary trackway 6 which is preferably formed of an angle member mounted horizontally between the legs 2, and with one flat surface facing downward which also serves to generally strengthen the couch frame. Extending vertically from substantially the center of the fixed trackway 6 to the upper end frame member of the stationary section is a flat brace 7. A tiltable trackway 8 is pivotally mounted on the brace 7 by any such means as the pivot bolt 9 passing through the brace 7 and the trackway 8 slightly above fixed trackway 6. Thus the tiltable trackway 8 is permitted to move about its pivot 9 through an angular distance of between 20 and 30 degrees as may be required, its movement being limited by its ends coming in contactwith the fixed trackway 6. It will be noted that the mounting of the tiltable trackway 8 is such that its surface lies directly above the trackway 6.

In the preferred form of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, it is noted that each end of the stationary section of the couch frame is provided with a similar` tiltable trackway similarly mounted. On the rear of the side member of the stationary couch frame is mounted a pair of depending braces 10 each spaced from the end of the couch about one-fourth of the length of the couch. Pivotally mounted at the lower end of each of the brace members 10 is a toggle bar l1 which has its end slotted and coupled to the end of the tiltable trackway 8 by reason of the latter fitting into the slot. These toggle bars 1l are pivotally connected together by means of a suitable pivot pin 12, the latter extending through a slot in one of the bars or otherwise having sunicient freedom of movement to avoid binding.

Mounted adjacent the ends of the tiltable trackway is a pair of actuating lugs 13 each having a laterally extending stepped portion 13? adapted to be engaged by the foot of the operator. In Fig.

1, it is seen that the operating lugs 13 are provided at each end of the couch frame so that the tiltable trackways may be conveniently operated from either end of the couch. However,

lugs at one end suilice to operate the couch satis- Atrackway 8 to which it is attached will be tilted about its pivot 9 through the entire distance of its movement until its end comes in contact with the stationary trackway 6. Movement of the trackway 8 thus effected will cause a corresponding movement of the toggle bar 11 coupled thereto.

lThe movement of the toggle bar 1 1 operating through the pivot pin 12 will cause a corresponding movement of the other toggle member and consequently an identical movement of the tiltable trackway 8 at the opposite end of the couch. Therefore, when the tiltable trackway 8 at one end of the couch is tilted the operation of the toggle members 11 engaging the ends of the trackways and pivot-ally connected to each other, will cause a simultaneous similar movement of 'the tiltable trackway at the opposite end of the couch.

The rear legs 4 of the movable section of the couch are provided with slots 15 throughout a substantial portion of their length, the openings of which face lengthwise of the couch. Mounted for slidable movement within each slot 15 is a pivot pin 15 which carries a freely rotatable roller 17 adapted for engagement with and to travel on the upper surface of the tiltable trackway 8., Mounted upon a fixed pivot at the lower end of the leg 4 directly beneath the roller 17 is a roller 18 adapted for rolling engagement with the under surface of the stationary trackway 6. Pivotally secured to and adjacent the lower end of the leg Il is a floating lever 1.9 which may, as shown in the drawings, have its end pivotally mounted upon the same pivot pin which carries the roller 18. A second floating lever 20 is pivotally mounted at a point somewhat past the mid section of the lever 19, as shown in Figs. 1 4, inclusive, and has one end pivotally secured to the pivot pin 16 which carries the slidably mounted roller 17. The ends of the two floating levers 19 and 20 extend some little distance beyond the point at which they are pivoted together and have mounted in the ends thereof a pair of links 21 which are connected to a tension coil spring 22 secured to the front leg of the movable couch section.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the tension of the coil spring 22 operating through the links 21 constantly tends to exert a downward force upon the roller 17 against the trackway 8. The force exerted by the spring 22 is preferably sufficiently Vstrong so that it will also tend to relieve some of the weight of the movable couch frame upon the rear leg 4 and raise it sufficiently to keep the roller 18 in engagement with the fixed trackway 6. In other words, the action of the spring 22 constantly tends to urge the rollers 17 and 18 towards each other. It will therefore be seen that when the trackway 8 is shifted to raise the end upon which the roller 17 rests the spring 22 urging the rollers 17 and 18 together will cause the movable section of the couch to move relative to the stationary section until the roller 17 has again attained the lower end of the trackway. As shown in Fig. 2, the trackway has just been swung and the movable section of the couch is sliding out from underneath the stationary section and will obviously continue to do so until the roller 17 has reached the lower end of the trackway where it will abut against the leg 2 of the stationary section and prevent further movement.

As has been explained above, through the action of the toggle bars 11, the trackways 8 at each end of the couch are tilted simultaneously whenever either one of them is tilted and consequently there will be a force exerted at each end of the movable section of the couch tending to urge it in the direction desired whenever one of the traekways has been tilted by the operator.

In order to somewhat relieve the shock of the rollers 17 striking against the front leg 2 of the soi stationary section of the couch the surface of the tiltable trackway 8 may be curved up slightly at its end, as shown at 23.

To permit the complete separation of the stationary and movable sections of the couch, a portion of one of the front legs 2 of the stationary section is cut away to form apertures 24 and 25 through which the rollers 17 and 18 may respectively be removed. In order to do this, it is necessary to raise the roller 17 manually sufficiently to allow it to pass through the aperture 24. The movable couch frame 2 may then be moved endwise suinciently to slip the rollers 17 and 18 at the opposite end of the couch oli` their respective tracks and entirely free the movable section from the stationary section, thus providing two separate couches.

In the preferred form of the invention, illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, and just discussed, although the ends of the trackways 8 have been tilted up slightly as shown at 23, they have not been curved sufficiently to stop Completely the roller 17 and it is necessary therefore that a portion 2a (see Fig. 5) of the front leg 2 of the stal tionary couch section lie in the path of the rollers as they reach the lower end of the track in order to limit the movement of the movable section.

A slightly modified form of the invention just described is shown in Figs. 6 and 7 in which the end of the tiltable trackway 8 has been curved up suiiiciently to completely arrest the movement of the rollers 17 as they reach the lower end of the trackway, as is shown at 27 in Fig. 6. Both of the trackways 8 are provided with this upwardly turned abutment 27 at the lower ends and in this form of the invention both of the forward legs of the stationary section have been notched out sufiiciently so that they in no way impede the progress of the rollers 17. The front portion of each of the front legs 2 instead of being completely cut out is bent forwardly to form an upwardly inclined ramp 28 adjacent the forward ends of the trackway 8 having its upper end approximately on the same level as the upper end of the curved portion 27 of each trackway 8. Thus, after the movable section of the couch has been advanced to the position shown in Fig. 6, all that is necessary to separate the two sections is to jerk the movable section outwardly suilicient to cause the roller 17 to rise over the upturned end 27 of each trackway 8 and the two couch sections will be completely separated. When it is desired to reunite the two sections in operative relation it is merely necessary to arrange them side by side and push the movable section sunciently so that the roller 17 engaging the inclined ramp 28 will rise up and over the end 27 of the tiltable trackway. The ramp 28 merges at its upper end with the wall of the leg 2 and may be eliminated.

In Figs. 8 to 12 inclusive is shown a modified form of the actuating mechanism in which the tiltable trackway is provided at only one end of the stationary section. The stationary trackway 6 and the tiltable trackway 8 with its actuating lugs 13 is identical with those just described in connection with the preceding gures. At the opposite end of the stationary couch frame, however, the tiltable trackway 8 is dispensed with and the stationary trackway 30 is somewhat modified, the upper surface of the trackway 30 being adapted to receive a roller 31 mounted for rotation on a pivot fixed upon one of the rear legs of the movable section of the couch. The trackway 30 is provided at its inner edge with an upstanding flange 32 to guide the roller 31 along the trackway and inasmuch as the trackway is preferably formed of an angle member, as illustrated, the upstanding flange of the angle member serves to maintain a guide to prevent the roller 31 from slipping off the outer edge of the trackway 30. The roller 17, mounted in its movable pivot pin 16, slidable in the slot 15 in the rear leg of the movable section of the couch, has a tension coil spring 33 directly secured to the pivot pin 16 and having its lower end secured to the adjacent lower end of the leg. 'Thus, this coil spring constantly tends to exert a downward force upon the roller 17 against the trackway 8 and likewise tends to maintain the roller 16 in engagement with the surface of the trackway 6 substantially in the same manner as the spring 22 operating through the floating levers 19 and 20 produced the same action just described in Figs. 1-5 in connection with the preferred form of this invention. It is obvious that this modified form of the invention might equally well be actuated by a similar arrangement of oating levers. .A pair of rollers 35 are mounted for rotation upon a Vertical axis upon the front legs of the stationary section of the frame and are adapted for rolling engagement with the end members of the movable section of the frame in order to preserve a proper alinernent of the two sections during relative movement.

In this form of the invention, it will be seen that tilting of the trackway 8 by means of the actuating lugs 13a the end of the couch frame will urge the movable couch frame outwardly and the roller 13 riding on the trackivay 30 will be moved outwardly also due to the fact that the ilanges on the track 3D and the rollers 35 maintain the two sections in proper alinement.

It is obvious also that if it should be desired to provide this form of the invention with satisfactory means for completely separating the two couch sections, it will only be necessary to provide suitable apertures in the front faces of the legs of the stationary section to permit the removal of the various rollers and it will be seen that this form of the invention is subject to the various means for permitting the removal of the movable section described in connection with the preceding figures.

It is quite clear from the foregoing, that in all the forms of the invention illustrated in the drawings and described above that when the two sections of the couch are completely telescoped as shown in Fig. 3, all that is necessary to extend them is to depress the actuating lug 13 and the movable section will automatically slide out from under the stationary section to form'a bed having the surface area substantially twice that of the couch when the two sections are telescoped one within the other. Likewise, when it is desired to retract the movable section, depressing of the actuating lug 13 at the opposite end of the trackway will cause the movable section to return to the position shown in Fig. 3.

What I claim is:

1. An extensible couch frame comprising a movable section and a stationary section in telescoping relation, said stationary section having ends each comprising a pair of legs and a stationary trackway supported by said legs, a tiltable trackway carried by one of the ends of said stationary section, a xed roller carried by the movable section of said couch frame and adapted for engagement with said stationary trackway,

and a movably mounted roller also carried by said movable section, spring means yieldingly urging said movably mounted roller into engagement with said tiltable trackvvay, said rollers and trackivays cooperating, when said tiltabletrackvfay is shifted, to cause movement of said movable section relatively to said stationary section, and operating means located adjacent one leg of the stationary section for causing tilting of said tiltable trackway.

2. An extensible couch frame comprising a movable section and a stationary section in telescoping relation, said stationary section having ends each comprising a pair of legs and a stationary trackway supported by said legs, a tiltable trackway carried by one of the ends of said stationary section, a xed roller carried by the movable section of said couch frame and adapted for engagement with said stationary trackway, a movably mounted roller also carried by said movable section adapted for engagement with said tiltable trackway, and means constantly forcing said movable roller into engagement with said tiltable trackway, said rollers and track- Ways cooperating, when said tiltable trackway is shifted, to cause relative movement of said movable section and said stationary section, and means for tilting said tiltable trackway located adjacent one of the legs of the stationary section.

3. An extensible couch frame comprising a movable section and a stationary section in telescoping relation, said stationary section having ends each comprising a pair of legs and a stationary trackway supported by said legs, a tiltable trackxvay carried by one of the ends of said stationary section, a xed roller carried by the movable section of said couch frame and adapted for engagement with said stationary trackway, a movably mounted roller also carried by said movable section adapted for engagement with said tiltable trackway and means constantly forcing said movable roller into engagement with said tiltable trackway, said rollers and trackways cooperating, When said tiltable trackway is shifted, to cause relative movement of said movable section and said stationary section, guide means carried by said stationary section serving to guide said movable section during movement, and means adjacent one leg of the stationary section for causing tilting of said tiltable trackway.

4. An extensible couch frame comprising a movable section and a stationary section in telescoping relation, said stationary section having ends each comprising a pair of legs and a frame member intermediate said legs, a tiltable track- Way pivotally mounted on said frame member to swing substantially in the piane of said legs, a roller movably mounted on said movable section, means yieldingly urging said roller downwardly into engagement With said trackivay, whereby, when said trackway is swung on its pivot, said roller tendsv to run toward the lower end thereof and to -move said movable section relative to said stationary section, and operating means located adjacent the end of said stationary section for swinging said trackv/ay on its pivot.

5. An extensible couch frame comprising a movable section and a stationary section in telescoping relation, said stationary section having ends each comprising a pair of legs, a supporting member intermediate said legs, a tiltable track- Way pivotally mounted on said supporting member to swing substantially in the plane of said legs into an inclined position, a roller mounted for vertical movement on said movable section and adapted to engage said trackway, a spring constantly urging said roller against said track- Way, whereby said roller tends to travel along said inclined trackway in a direction to lessen the tension on said spring, and to thus move the movable section horizontally relative to said stationary section, means for preventing relative vertical movement of said sections, and operating means forswinging said trackway on its pivot.

CLARK HAMRICK TURNER..

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