US2107728A - Convertible couch - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 8, 1938. I p CUTLER 2,107,728

CONVERTIBLE COUCH Filed Jan. 23, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet l 44 49 45 INVENTOR.

Phila}: Caller ATTORNEY.

Feb; 8, 1938. CUTLER 2,107,728

CONVERTIBLE COUCH 7 Filed Jan. 25, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 65 45 95 INVENTOR.

lu b'p Cutler BYwmm. I

ATTORNEY.

Feb. 8, 1938. I CUTLER 2,107,728

CONVERTI BLE COUCH Filed Jan. 23, 1935 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I] 1/7 I as I INVENTOR. Philip Culveraw/WM ATTORNEY.

35 ticle of furniture.

PATENT omce 2,107,728 CONVERTIBLE coUcH- Pliilip' curler, New York, N. Y. Application January" 23, 1935-, Serial No. 3,068

V 1 Claim. 7 Fins-invention relates} generally to convertible couches-wherein an upright back member is extensible? to serve ajs-a companion single" bed to the single'bed afforded-"b'y the surface-50f the 5* couch. More" specifically; the-invention relates toa convertiblecouchwherein the backme'mber 'i's supportedf oni'elemeiits ojf-the couch-or sta- 'tiona'ry frame when not in service; as a' doublej 1'0 'Tl'ie maih object of the invention residesin the;

provision-of a couchnonvertible intoadoublebed by releasing the baclg member from the stationary frame, opening folding legs mounted at the under surface of the 'saidbackmember; and allowing 15 the said ba member to pivot outwardly "about the fe'nd members of the stationaryframe'whereby the back' member automatically seeks the level of the stationary couch frame; 7

' Another objectof the inventionis inthe provision' of structure as just described wherein means are'affordedfor' the complete" separation of'the back member'as a single bedfrom the bed afforded by the'stationa'ry frame;

v p A further object of the invention isiin the pro-f 2'5 vision'ofstructurewherein means areprovided for the'sup'port ofa back member for a couch'in' a nevelform, the said means being for the mattress orj upholstery portion of the back member and for I the frameorspring portion of the back'm'ember'. 30

provision of a convertiblebo'uch which is economi: cal tomanufac'ture, easy tooperate, comprised of a minimum number of parts and which is adaptedto furnish a most aesthetic looking ar- ,7 These objects and other incidental ends and advantages will hereinafterappearin the progress I off'thi's disclosure and as' pointed outfin the. an

7 pe'nddcl'aim. v I i 40'" "Accompanying this specification; are drawings showing a preferred" embodimentof'th invention I andwherein the referencecharacters appearing in; the drawings designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views thereof.

. In-accordance with the drawings:

" Figure l is a view in perspective of-a preferred embodiment of Y a convertible? couch in accordance 'wi ththeinvention; Figiire' ,2 is Faatransverse;sectional view of Fig ure 1- a'long' -the plane 2-2thereof.

*Figiire' 3 i s*a"view"in perspective of the stationaryahdniovabletruck"frames"of the convertible movable 'truck 'frame' v being partly separated from the stationary Another object of the invention resides in the" movable truck frame is capable of assuming with relation to the stationary frame;

' Figure 5 is a view inelevation of the rear of the m'ovable'truck frame shown mounted onthe end pieces of the stationary frame, the said view being shortened along the length thereof.

Figure" 6 is an enlarged view in perspective showing one of the 'two channels aflixedto the end pieces ofthe stationary frame, the saidchannel being" adapted to allow pivot elements from the movable truckto move vertically therein and to be supported thereby.

Figure 7'is'a' fragmentary plan'view partly in section showing the mechanism controlling the operation'of the folding legs of the movable truck frame.

Figure 8 is a sectional view of an alternate manner" of 'su-pporting'the back member of the convertible 'couch;-the' said alternate manner being in relation to the showing of the back member"in"Figu're 2' of theaccompanying drawings.

In'accordance' with the invention and in accordance'with a preferred form shown in the accompanying drawings", the structure is comprised of astationary frame'ha'ving end members detachably" affixed thereto and a movable 3'5 truck frame which when in upright position serves as a couch back while when in extended position serves as a single bed in companionship withthe single be'd 'offered bythe 'stationary frame; The movable truck frame'is supported 40 on tw'o'channel members mounted on the inner surfaces o'f' the detachable endpieces of the stationary frame, and it is in these channel members that pivots from the movable truck frame are supported andslidable above the lower limiting wall of the saidchannel members. When the movable truck frame is in upright position, the pivots thereof bear in the bottom walls of the channel members. In order to extend the truck frame from the upright position, the said frame is released from the upright position, the folding legs forcedoutwardly from the undersurface and the entire frame permitted to pivot outwardly by virtue of the Weight thereof. As the legs of the frame of the truck member touch the floor, the pivots of the truck frame ride upwardly and vertically in the channel members until the legs of the truck member all touch the floor at once at which time the level of the truck frame is the same as the level of the single bed afforded by the stationary frame, thereby affording a double bed. The single bed of the truck frame is capable of complete separation from the stationary frame by lifting the pivots thereof from the channel members in the end pieces of the stationary frame.

The novelty of the invention resides in the articulation between the stationary frame and the truck frame and the manner of supporting the said truck frame when in upright position,

the said manner of supporting the truck frame being equally applicable to the support of the upright or back of an ordinary couch having an upholstered back with a frame work therefor. Moreover, novelty of the invention resides in the other features hereinafter set forth in a specific description of the preferred form of the invention shown in the drawings.

The stationary frame of the convertible couch is provided with two end pieces I!) and If to serve as the arm members of the structure and may be upholstered in any known manner. The upper parts of the arm members are designated by numerals l and II respectively. The stationary frame is made preferably of angle iron and is assembled from uprights or legs !2, l3, l4 and I5, lower end rails l6 and H, upper end rails l8 and [9, lower longitudinal rails 20 and 2 l, and upper rear longitudinal rail 23 and upper front longitudinal wire or flexible band 22, the said member 22 being extended from the upper end rails 58 and E!) by means of the ordinary coil contractile springs. The purpose of having member 22 flexible or resilient is to afford a springable forward edge to the couch. The upper end rails of the stationary frame designated by numerals l8 and iii support a bed spring which is pivotal for the greater part of the width thereof. The bed spring for the pivotal part thereof is provided with a frame member having end rails 24 and 25 superposing end rails is and I9 respectively and pivoting with the latter rails at 24 and 25 respectively. Connecting end rails 24 and 25 is a longitudinal rail member offset downwardly and extending forwardly thereof, the said longitudinal rail member being designated by numeral 26, and being adapted to clear member 22 in the raising and lowering thereof. Beyond pivotal points 24 and 25' are sections of end rails 21 and 28 superposing and connected with the end portions of end rails I8 and I9 respectively of the stationary frame. End rails 21 and 28, and end rails 24 and 25 of the pivotal frame member furnish the supports for the usual contractile coil springs 31 which serve to maintain the known wire or band surface for the support of a mattress 41, the said wire or band surface not being shown in the accompanying drawings.

Numerals 29, 36, 3| and 32 represent reinforcing links between the uprights and the upper and lower end rails of the stationary frame of the couch, while 33, 34 and 35, 36 are slots on the outer surfaces of uprights l2 and i3 respectively, each pair. of slots being in alignment. Similarly, uprights l4 and i are each provided with a pair of aligned slots 33, 34' and 351, 36 respectively on the outer surfaces thereof. Each of the end, pieces ll! and H of the stationary frame is provided with fingers having upwardly offset portions extending from the inner surfaces to cooperate with the slots in the aforementioned uprights whereby the stationary frame acts as a suspension from the end pieces. It can easily be seen, however, that the end pieces H] and II may be supported on the uprights of the stationary frame where the said uprights are designed to be supported on the floor. In this event, the fingers projecting from the inner surfaces of the end pieces l0 and Il would have downwardly projecting offset portions to cooperate with the slots in the uprights. This invention contemplates such a variation although the drawings omit reference thereto.

As shown in the drawings, the stationary frame affords a bedding storage compartment by providing a bottom wall 38 extending from the lower longitudinal rails 20 and 2| and from the lower end rails 16 and H, a front wall 39 extending from the lower longitudinal rail 20 to below the wire or band member 22 and from uprights l2 and E4, and a rear wall 40 extending from uprights l3 and I5 and from upper and lower longitudinal rails 2| and 23. The end pieces and H furnish side walls for the bedding storage compartment. The walls mentioned in this paragraph may be of any suitable material such as cedar wood or any other adaptable substance.

In order to gain access to the said, bedding storage compartment, the pivotal frame, bounded by end rails 24 and 25 and front or longitudinal rail member 26 is raised as is! shown in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

Numeral 42 represents any upholstery material such as cloth and is preferably stretched between the front edges of end pieces l0 and H and is mounted between lower longitudinal rail 21! and above wire or band member 22 to give the couch a finished appearance inthis region as seen in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings. Numerals 43, 44, 45 and 46 represent supports on which the stationary portion of the convertible couch rests against the floor, 45 and 46 being the known casters while 43 and 44 are leg sections. Behind the leg sections 43 and 44 are casters 48 and 49 to enable easy rolling of the couch.- It is easily seen'that housings maybe provided for the casters 45, 46 and 48 and 43 thereby eliminating leg sections 43 and 44. and thus rendering an improved appearance to the structure.

Between end rails l6 and 18 of the stationary frame is affixed a vertical frame member 50 provided with a vertically extended slot through which a pivoted catch arm 5! rides, the said catch arm being pivoted at 54 to the end rail 24 as shown in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings. The lower edge of arm 5! is provided with a notch 52 near the outer extremity of the said arm which notch is adapted to catch in a cross member 53 in the slot of frame member 53, Thus, the cross member53 serves as a bearing for the lower edge of arm 5|; when the pivotal spring is raised, the same has alimiting and locked position when notch 52 engages the cross member 53. Inorder to lower the pivotal spring, arm

5! must be manually pulled forward to disengage notch 52 from cross member 53.

The movable truck frame is now to be described. The said truck frame is comprised of an upper framework having longitudinal rails 55 and 56 and end rails 51 and 58. These parts as in the case of the stationary frame are preferably of angle iron. The outer surface of the forward longitudinal rail 56 is provided with upright 59' intermediate the length thereof and uprights 60 40 v proximate the endsthereof and: 511 'at the end'sa-offthe said rail 56'. Theruprightsyfiflrand' 50." are each: provided with.v plates larly ofplates BDand' 60 61s" and: El extending .inwardly and perpendicurespectively. The purpose of the upright 59, 60 and 60' is to serve as alower supportfor the mattress 96 when thelatter is in'vertic'al position, while the purpose or plates 6! and 5 I is to prevent lateral displace- "mentiof: mattress 96 in all positions.-"fi y Y (the last mentioned" 1 is provided with a spring surface suspended or maintained by contractile coil springs- 65- affixed to the end rails 51' and 58 of theupperframe work,ithe-said spring surfacenot being shown in the'accompanying drawings in'Figure 3. Nu-

merals66- and GT represent' orifices in the end rails of the upper frame" work inwardly of the forward 'longit'udinal rail 55 to be' eng'aged by hooks 94 and'95-respectively mounted on the rear edges of end pieces H and lll'forapurpose herei'r'iafter tobe described. Numeral 62' represents a wire or bandmember' extending from uprightlill toi upright 59 and? from upright 59 to upright mentioned, comprises an upper frame work'and folding legs.

' said" uprights for the 30:

69" and servesas a cooperating supportwith'the mattress 96 when the latter isin vertical position,

The movable truck frame, as has been before Each pair of 1 legs is preferably formedof a- U-shaped bar'as is shown in Figure 681 the lower supporting --means therefor. The

v leg-68 at pivot are the upright members of the bar an'dthe lowerconnecting cross piece upper ends of legs 618", 68are pivotally 'connected to the longitudinal- rails 55 and 56 of'the upper frame work of the movable truck frame as best seen by reference to Figure 7. 'The front rear leg 69' is plvotedat 12h) the inner wall or rail 55- at the top" of the-said; leg 58'. Legs 68' and 68" are alsjo'reinforced by a V-shaped reinforcing member- 69 affixed to the intermediat 1eg68f a short'distance I is adapted to engagewith a depression M Numeral 15"represents an angle memberrivetedto' end rail 55; and is adapted to serve asa limiting stop for thesaid leg 68 when m outstretched or operative. position as shown in Figures 5 and '7. Pivotally connected to the said 1'! approximately between pro-, jection'13 andpivot "is a link l'lconnectedto thefront end rail 58 by] contractile spring 18.

It thusjcanbe seen that leg 68 when in" folded position remains so by virtuejof projection 13, in

witsrnortiselld and by virtue ofthe fact that pivot 12 isbelQW pivotg'll i Leg 58" is similarly pro-' videdwith a projection and mortise therefor, ,an angle member to serve as a limiting stop for leg 68" and a pivotal link springably mounted from the front end rail 58. I

Opposite legs 19' and 19 are joined by a lower connecting piece 10 and by a V-shaped reinforcing member 1 l. Leg 10' is provided with a proiection 80 adapted to fit into a mortise 8|, a limiting stop or angle member 82 for leg 10, a pivotal link 83 mounted to end rail 51 by a contractile spring 84. Leg 10" is provided with similar means.

v ev portion of Numeral 13 represents afprojec tion; rounded preferably, on the "outer surface of, from the top thereof; and: suitable mortise or 14, on thei'inner wall of longitudinal Fromthe foregoing, it is seenhow the folding legsa68', 68'. and 10', 10 remainin-open position by the tension of the springable mounting thereof and. the angle member stops and how the same legs-remain in folded position by virtue of-rounded projections and mortises: therefor and by virtue of the off-center position of the legs with respect to their respective pivots. Very little hand" pressure is required to open and close the legs of'the movabletruck frame.

End pieces [0 and H at the inner surfaces thereof and proximate to-the rear edges are each provided with similar channel members 85'and 85 respectively; Each chann'el'member is affixed to its respective end piece and comprises preferabl'y a vertical slot open at the top and closed at the bottom, the said slot-leading'into-a vertical chamber open at the top-andclosed-at the bottom as best shown in Figure 6 of the accompanyingdrawings. Channel member 85is thus provided with a slot 85a and chamber 85b. Similarly, channel member 85"is-provided with a slot 85'a and chamber 85b. I

End rails 51 and 58 of the'truck frame proximate the forward edges thereof are provided With-outwardly projectingtrunnions 87 and '86 respectively, the said trunnions being adapted to slide up and down of the slotted chambers of the channel members 85 and 85'. The said trunnions areprovided with end disc members 81 and 86' respectively for engagement with the channel members 85 and 85'-. It is thus seen how the movable truck frame is mounted on the end pieces l0 and H by merely-raising the truck frame so that'trunnions 81 and 88 together with their respective. disc members 81" and 86' enter the openings of the channel members 85 and 85'.

The rear edges of the end pieces l0 and H proximate the tops thereof are each provided with pivotal fingers adapted to hold the truck frame or back of the convertible couch by engaging the end rails when the latter are in vertical position. Thus end piecel 0 is provided with a finger 88 pivoted near the top of the. rear edge thereof at pivot 89; the said finger 88 being provided with a stop projection 90. 1 Similarly, end piece H is provided with a'pfinger. 9l at pivot 92, the said finger 19!. being'also provided with a stop projection 93;

Orifices 66 and 61 intheend rails of. the upper frame work inwardly of the forward'longitudinal rail 56 of the movable truck frame as has before been mentioned are engaged by hooks 94 and 95 respectively mounted on the rear edges of end pieces I I and I 0. These hooks and orifices are provided to insure against movement of the rear portion of the convertible couch when the said rear portion is'in. the position of a single day bedadjoining the single. day bed affordedby thefstationary frame, and is in close proximity. thereto by virtue of the disconnection of trunnions 86 and 8T from" channel members 85' and 85;" I

.Iight position below its prior position. By so doing and by providing a supporting structure such as a plurality of brackets 91 to hold mattress 96 in vertical position above rail 55, a better looking top is given to the convertible couch.

At the same time uprights 68, 60, 59 and band members 62 are eliminated to support the back mattress 96 when in upright position. As shown, brackets 91 extend from rear wall 40 of the bedding storage compartment. It is easily seen that any other form of a support such as a ledge may be substituted for brackets 91 to function as a support for mattress 96 of the rear of the convertible couch when the said mattress is in upright position, the said support being suitably mounted from either the rear portion of the stationary frame or from the inner sides of the end pieces llland ll.

The convertible couch is susceptible of being upholstered in any known fashion, one form of upholstery being shown. in Figure l of the accompanying drawings. Mattress 41 of the stationary frame and mattress 96 of the back or movable frame are fashioned to present the appearance of adjoining cushions.

The conversion of the couch to a double bed or to two single beds wherein the members are separable or are articulately joinedat the option of the user involves a simple operation that a child can accomplish. Pairs of folding legs 68,

68" and 19', 10" are'drawn outwardly into final open position by pulling the connecting pieces 68 and 10 respectively until the legs impinge against their respective stops through the action of the contractile springs already described. Thereupon fingers 88 and 9| are raised to upright position as. shown in solid lines in Figure 5. Thus the rear support of the movable frame when in upright position is removed allowing the back or movable frame to pivotally drop outwardly by virtue of its own weight. Pivots 86 and 81 supporting and attached to the movable frame at this time rest on the bottom closed portion of slots 85a and 85a respectively and revolve thereabout. Pivots 86 and 81 are forced upwardly along the vertical slots 85'a and 85a respectively from the time that legs 68" and 19" touch the ground until all the legs and the connecting cross pieces therewith touch the floor at once at which time the level of the truck frame is the same as the level of the single bed afforded by the stationary frame. Thus a double bed comprised of two single beds pivoted together results. By raising the pivots 86 and 81 out of the open tops of slots 85'a and 85a respectively, the truck frame can be drawn more closely to the stationary frame and held in position by means of hooks '94 and 95 engaging with orifices 66 and 61 respectively. On the other hand, the truck frame instead of being drawn more closely to the stationary frame may be distantly removed therefrom and serve as an independent and single bed. Casters 98 ease the facility of movement of the truck frame.

Mattresses 41 and 96 are each removable from the springs of the stationary and the movable frames so that the same may be reversed and removed for the usual reasons. The ordinary expedients of keeping the said mattresses in place such as tape members extending from the surfaces of the mattresses to be tied to the springs at suitable places can be resorted to. Such temporary affixation is especially necessary for mattress 96 since the latter is in upright position when the convertible couch is in non-bed use. Moreover, the spring surfaces themselves may be covered with cloth to protect the mattress thereagainst. The bedding compartment in the stationary frame serves to store the materials needed for the use of the convertible couch as a double bed or as two single beds.

In order to reassemble the stationary frame and the truck or movable frame into a convertible couch, pivots 86 and 81 are inserted into slots 8571. and 850. respectively, the movable or truck frame is raisedfrom the ground whereupon the weight of the said truck frame causes the pivots 86 and 81 to descend to the lowermost wall of slots 85'a and 8511 respectively. Thereupon the legs are folded inwardly. Fingers 86 and 9| are manually made to engage end rails 51 and 58 respectively of the truck frame to maintain the latter in upright position.

It is to be clearly understood that minor changes and variations in the structure of the several parts, in the material and integration thereof and in the combinations and subcombinations thereof may all be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and Without departing from the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

In a convertible couch, a stationary frame having a bed spring surface, end pieces to support the said stationary frame, a second frame having another bed spring surface, foldable uprights connected to the said second frame and capable when extended of independently supporting the second frame horizontally at a height substantially the same as that of the first mentioned bed spring surface, pivotal securing means between the stationary and second frames comprising two elongated, vertically disposed channel members open at the top and closed on the bottom, each being oppositely affixed to the said end pieces rearwardly of and extending below the stationary frame, projections extending from the second frame and being mounted in the said channel members for rotation, re-

moval and vertical displacement whereby the,

second frame when in upright position is spaced from the rear of the stationary frame and extends below the level of the stationary frame, supporting means projecting upwardly from the forward longitudinal edge of the second frame, duplicate loose mattresses supported on the said stationary and second frames, the said loose mattress against the second frame when the latter is" in upright position being held in upright position by means of the above-mentioned supporting means and the rear longitudinal edge of the loose mattress for the stationary frame.

PHILIP CUTLER.

Images