US2635255A - Article of furniture - Google Patents

Description

April 2l, 1953 T. HOLDEN 2,635,255

ARTICLE 0R FURNITURE Filed July 17, 195o 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 A T TORNEV 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 L. T. HOLDEN ARTICLE OF FURNITURE April 21, 1953 Filed July 1'7, 1950 /NVENTOR LAWRENCE 7T HOLDEN yam C: Mm

` ATTORNEY llllllllllllllllill l means.

Patented Apr. 21, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE y 2,635,255 ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Lawrence T. Holden, Summit, N. J. Application July 1'1,l 1950, Serial No. 174,148 (c1. 5 2) 7 Claims.

U This invention relates to furniture and more `particularly to beds, couches and the like. In

one of its more specic embodiments, it is concerned with a novel combination of bed means and storage means, e. g. a bed and a chestl of 1 drawers, `wherein the bed is supported in a novel manner on the chest.

Although various combinations of a bed with other articles of furniture have been designed in the past, they have not apparently been particularly successful. This mayA have insome ir-,cases been due to the necessity of resorting to a compromise, whereby one or another of the desired functions was impaired. A relatively good 'bed might be accompanied by hard-to-use storage means or a good storage means by abed that was hard to make.

With the various diiliculties of previous struc- ,.tures of this type in mind, it is an object of this invention to provide a piece of furniture .that

may be used with ease and facility in each of its intended aspects, e. g. sleeping, storage and making. Y

.j Another object of this invention is to afford Nan article of furnitureof the class herein contemplated, which is particularly designed and adapted to conserve space and to thus be suitc'able for dwellings `having limited iioor area.

A further object of this invention is the proso-called Hollywood type, or as a unitary threequarter or double bed.

A still further object of this invention is to `provide a bed-storage combination 'of this type that may be used with one longitudinal side against awall or against another bed of this type and yetmay be easily made up. l

One feature of this invention resides in a combination bed and chest or storage cabinet strucl ture, wherein the whole bed portion is adjustably "cantilevered on the top of the storage portion i by antifriction means, whereby it may be moved to either of two desired normal positions with l a minimum of eiiort, and may be positively secured in either of these positions by detent Another feature of this invention` lies in a proportioning of the various parts in a manner such that `a very stable structure isobtained with no sacriiice in ease of operationor facility'of use.

A stillifurther feature ofl thisinventlon lies in 2 erage woman need not stoop over either to make thebed or to administer to the needs of a person thereon.

\ Another feature of this invention resides in proportioning the handles of the storage means so that they serve both as drawer pulls and as ladder steps for use by small children.

Other and further objects and features of this invention will be more `fully and clearly understood from the following description of exemplary embodiments thereof taken in connectionwith the appended drawings in which: l

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of anvillustrative embodiment of the invention showing the bed portion from one side and the chest or storage portion from its front;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3 and showing details of Y antifriction means for movably securing the bed portion to the chest portion; u

Fig. 3 is a top view with parts broken away showing the antifriction means and detent means;

Fig. 4 is a sectionalview taken on the line 4--4 of Fig.` 1 showing details of the detent means; Y

Fig. '5 is a compressed, fragmented view partly in section, as indicated by the line 5--5 of Fig. 4 and showing details of the detent means, the antifriction means, and the bed spring; i

Fig. 6 is an endv elevational `view in outline showing the bed portion extended against aw'all in sleeping position in full outline, and extended away from the wall in ,making position in dot-dash outline; Y

Fig. 7 is' anend elevational view in outline of two bed-chest combinations showing them as twin beds in full outline and as a Hollywood style double bed in dot-dash outline; and

Fig. `8 is a sectional view taken onfthe line 8-8 of Fig. 2 showing details of the support and guide means.

In the illustrative embodiment of the invention as shown n Fig. 1 the structure comprises a bed portion IIland a chest portion II.. The chest or storage portion may have drawers as indicated at I2 or may be otherwise constructed to meet different needs. For example, this vportion may have shelves and doors, or open shelves, or other suitable arrangements. i

The bed portion may have a headboard I3 and a footboard I4 to which are secured side rails or members I5 and I'B. Within this main frame of the bed is a bed spring means, which may comprise longitudinal members 2U. and 2I provided fdetent. means.

spring illustrated, has twolikeparts-or-armsBG Aarlds3l projecting; fromran: anchoring or mounting-portion 35.' Thesefarms are resilient and are 4v-rection of :extension vof theabed.

the normal extreme. positions the bed portion bers are secured to the headboard and footboard respectively to aid in supporting the spring on the bed structure. The spring proper may be stretched between the members 24 and 25 to support the mattress 26. tions of the spring are shown at .21, inFig. 5.

Secured between both the headboard andthe Fragments ofthe end por- A in Fig. c.

4 of the bed portion to tilt even when it is loaded at the extreme edge of the overhangingr part.

In the normal and usual use of a piece of furniture of this type, the weight of the storage portion provides adequate stability against tipping. If it were desired to have a non-storage base, added stability could be attained by the provision of weights in the base.

.Because the entire bedportion, including headboard and footboardjz'is cantileverediand because it may be cantilevered to either side, it may very .conveniently be used against a wall, as illustrated The easily movable bed portion may :be/rolledout from the wall for bed making Withfootboard and the respective-,ends-of'the'bed springs longitudinal members 20 and 2! are elements of the bed support means, which inthe illustrated embodiment are channel members 28 extending substantially l' across' '.the bed. Since these support `means are the same `at eachfend of the bed, only those at the head end :will "be 4particularly "described As maybe most-clearly seen in Fig. 2, the channel I255 is supported on ftw'orollers 3G and 3i. Aintermediate the supporting rollers 3% and'Bl is 'a retaining `roller 32. The

rollers-30, 3| and 32 areall securedonbrackets *mountedon the-topl ofthe chest. As shown in "vFi-gQZ,thesupport'frollers 30 andll are mounted i'near thelong-itudinal edges` of ythechest top and the retaining roller"32 oni its center line. The

suuoporting and retainingmeans may also be in vv'sliding relation to fthe :member 28 -but .roller imeansare'preferred particularly iortthesupporting means. The retaining` orholdedownmeans V"nrfifightwell-beof the' sliding 4contact type.

'In orderlto overcome anyitendenc'y ofithe; bed

' portionltofskew in its"-travel"and toA thus :cause binding between the channel-28 candthe'support- 4rfing oriretaining meansor their brackets; guide means-.are provided. Thesen in the illustrative embodiment are rollers 33 and 3A on thehead- "board end with like rollers atxthe other end'. The g-uidevrollers may: be mounted oneadjacent each supporting roller as shown in Fig. 8. Theserollers-,may conveniently.befsupported on the same ybrackets tas the supporting :rollers to bear-.on an outside surface of the channel. Thus with a pair of guide :rollers at 'both endsof vthe bed between f the"two channels, :rectilinear movementifof the irbed onzthe chest .isassured Secured. centrally of the 'tcp;of the: chest `is a This meansgfor thetype: of bed `provided with'` notches forflatching'to thelongitudinalmember Ior K2i depending upon the di- `Ineither of is securely latched against movement, yetfmay be I'easily vunlatched by `reasonable horizontal `pressure. Thisxdouble latching arrangement not "only makesfthis'bed usablefor sleeping inv either extremerposition, but lis particularly useful -while vmakingthe .bed-to prevent it'rolling away while warranging and tucking in the bed clothes.

` ."As mayibe seen by-inspection of fFigA, vabout one-third of the widthvfof the-bed or platform portion of the' illustrated device projects beyond the `.chest or ibase in the fully extended position f on'either side. Thus the unloaded bed `is in stable equilibrium even withoutv the retaining` roller A32.

'The' retaining rollersreact against any tendency mum of energy expenditure.

.out disturbing the base portion and with a mini- Furthermcre, the detent means will, as noted, hold the bed portion rmly in place in the making position as Well fas in the sleeping position.

The height of a bed in accordance with this 'finventionzzwill 'zor'dinarily be such 'itha'tthe top floor. 'the vaverage woman, since lit is not Lnecessaryi to `of the mattress isisabout thirty .inches i' fromsthe This makes "for more convenient .usefby stoop-over to either make thefbedior `toadministerv to'thecneeds ofca .child or. infant? thereon. A bed of this height is, however, inot.tooihighito be conveniently Vmadeby .an average chil'd'ofifrom 'seven to ten years.

'As'illustrated 'in.Figs. l, 3 and 4, theffdrawer pullsl il may be made in bar.form'so;that.they may rvservexas stepscfa'fla'd'der means. :This-provides a relatively'ieasy :means "forma *.sina'll '.fchild to ascendtothe bed.

Because the lbe'd of. this invention maybe locked in alternate cantileveredpositions; itt is'fparticularly easy to use in pairs. For'eXample,.1atpair of these.' structuresfmay vbe `usedfas'twin'zbeds in '5a relatively narrow .'alcove'. :Each bedrmaybe e,normallyxcantilevered to 'a :position againstone l offopposite wallsfwithfa relativelyinarrowsspace tbetween them. Each fhowever, fbe fseparately cantilevered to the opposite positionizfor ',making, 'thereby .eflicientiy using the :limited .i space. :The ibeds: in suchan .-arrangementfwould iin normal use,""be".inxaccordance withthefllllifline *positions showniin Fig. 7, each lagainst-'awall asfist shown for 'fone bed 'inlFig' 6. vFor.exam'ple, twobeds .fortyinches fwide, constructedtin ac- :,cordance` with'. this invention, have beerrused ^`in lfa walleto-'wallrspacetof about: eight feet.` The rsixteen. inches in izexcess. ofi thecombined widths of theitwofibeds, leaves adequate spacezfor pasrsage betvveenzthe `beds:and..for"'rolling each bed portion out from the wall for .making,1aswellias for access to drawers.

P-airs .of .theserbedsgmay also .be used Linthe .so-called ,Hollywood style with the twobedzporitti'onscantilevered toward land abutting each'fother, as shown in `Vthe dot-dash .linesin Fig. 7.

JHere, as in the twin bed situation,.the bedsmay rbeoppos'itely cantileveredto.obtaina center lai'sle for `convenience invmaking the beds. Because of thesymmetry .of the novell means -whichmovably secures the bedportion of. thisidevice 4to the base orstOragepOrticn, the parts may easilyibe zassembledsothat theaccess sideof the latter may be faced. inthe more convenient direction.

The structure and arrangement in accordance Yvvviththis.inventiony .using likeelements may also be applied Vto adouble `or a three-quarterbed.V .1n 'sucha construction the base or storage portion Wouldinecessarily be wider to accommodate the'wider bedportion. For exampleabed about .ffty-eight Ainches wide .would :have sa base `of fnonnai fovrhang would smite :about fourteen inchesas in `the narrower bed. Becauseof the greater Width =the "storage portion may be arrangedfonaccess at either side. 4A set of `shorter The bed portion in this wider structure can .be adapted for a temporarily greater overhang than normal to'allow access to the top of the storage r-port'ionon one side.` In this case a portiorilof the top of the storagef means may have a hingedY li-d. In order to allow the `b`e`d`to be moved far enough to obtain access t'o the top, the appropriate detent means will be of the passing type and stop means will be provided. The overhang in this temporary position may be nearly half of the bed width because the -bed will not be occupied at this time. Detent means of the type illustrated in Fig. 4 may be employed. Inthis use one member as 2U will pass out of the notch in arm 36 and under this arm. 'I'he anchoring portion 35 or an extension thereof will provide a stop for the member 20.

In order to allow for this additional overhang, the support and guide rollers, at least on the side of the opening top, will be located far enough from the edge to be out of the way of the inwardly located side of the bed. The support and guide means may cooperate with the side member of the bed to serve as a stop, either in addition to the stop previously described or in place thereof. In constructions where the supporting rollers are somewhat removed from the edge of the storage compartment, the supporting and retaining elements wi'll of course be made suiiiciently strong to take care of lany increased 'strain due to the greater distance of the edge of the bed from the support rollers when it is in the normally latched position.

Another way of using the cantilevered bed of this invention is to provide a half mattress on one side of the bed spring and a deck on the remainder. The mattress portion can be enclosed by suitable railings to provide a crib for a small child, and the deck with bathing facilities for the child. The railings and deck may be easily removable so that with the substitution of a full sized mattress a regular bed would be available when the child was ready for it.

Bed-chest `combinations which have been made in accordance with this invention have comprised ya chest and a bed frame of wood with most of the other parts of metal. The detent means may be of a strong, resilient Wood, Isuch asjash or of metal or other suitable material. The supporting, retaining and guide rollers are preferably Iof the ball or roller bearing type. The exterior surface of these rollers may be of a tough material such as ber, rubber, plastic or the like, to reduce Wear and to insure quiet operation. Other equivalent materials Within the spirit and scope of this invention may yof course be used for any of the various parts.

Instead' of the type of bed spring shown in the drawings, a coil type or a box spring may be used in this device. Another possibility is a bed box with a solid bottom and a mattress of foam rubber or like material. If the spring or bed box is different from that shown in the drawings, the means ycooperating with the detent will be adapted to the situation. For example, in those types having no members corresponding to the longitudinal members 2B and 2l of the i1- lustrated modification, a latchng bar could be secured vto the "appropriate part on eachfsid'e of the bed portion. l

In themodicationshown in the drawings, the various parts are secured together' `with bolts, nuts and screws. fObviously, special bed springs may be used and other suitable means of fabrication may be employed, depen-dingupon the materials used for the structure, the appear. ance desired, and various other factors such as the requirementsof quantity productionyetc;v

The terms bed or bed portion as herein used are intended to include the headboard, footboard, side rails, bed spring and mattresso-rtheir equivalent. Y Since the complete "bed or-lrf-bed portion is moved asa unit, there 'are never any sharp corners or edges of the spring or other metal parts exposed to endanger users.

It should be understood that the foregoing description and the appended drawings are intended as illustrative only and not vas limiting the invention defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. An article of furniture comprising a bed, `and a storage compartment, each of substantially the same length, the bed being substantially wider than the compartment, means for securing the bed upon the compartment for limited lateral movement with respect thereto, to a position overhanging either one of the sides of the compartment.

2. An article of furniture comprising a bed,

and. a storage compartment, each of sulbstan-V. tially the same length, the bed being from about Y one and one-third to one and one-half times the width of the compartment, means for securing the bed upon the compartment for limited lateral movement with respect thereto, to a position overhanging either one of the sides of the compartment.

3. A combination bed and storage means comprising a bed portion and a storage portion, the bed portion being of greater width than the storage portion, means for rol'l'ably mounting the bed Iportion upon the storage portion, whereby 'a part thereof may be selectively extended -beyond either one of the opposite sides of the storage portion, means for preventing tilting of the bed portion with respect to the storage portion in any position of the bed portion, and means for retaining the bed portion in either extended position.

4. A device as in claim 3 in which the means for preventing tilting of the bed portion with respect to the storage portion comprises hold-down means interconnecting the two portions and located to react against the gravitational force acting upon the extended part of the bed portion.

5. An article of furniture including a bed portion and a storage portion, said bed portion being substantially wider than, but of substantially the same length as said storage portion, antifriction means for mounting the bed portion upon the storage portion, so that said bed portion may be laterally extended beyond the storage portion on either side thereof, and means for retaining the bed portion in either eXtreme of its extended position.

6. An article of furniture including a base and a movable platform mounted thereon, said base comprising a storage compartment, and said platform comprising a` bed, said platform being' of the same length as, but of greater width than said base, means for mounting the platform for lateral movement with respect to said base, and means for limiting the movement in either direction to the excess of platform width over base Width.

- farticle raoflxfurniturelfcomprising @a :base

fand a, bed, the base being of Asubstantiallyrthe :ssameslength Tas, butfof lessrwidth :than 'the bed, and means: for mounting-the bed for lateral movelm'entonthebasefincludngfaY pair. of supporting fmemberresting-upon-one: pair'. ofthef supporting Irollers, land #the corresponding .retaining rolle bearing on an .oppositensurfacesofach Lchannel V,mernbelx eferences .cited in the .me ,nf vthis patet i'UNrrEn STATES .PATENTS Number :Name l'Date l 190,957 Cleland May 22, '1877 544,630 Scherer Aug. 1:3, 13895 866,954 Nehr Sept. '24, 1907 '1,323,229 Borhauer Nov. 25,1919

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