US2656877A - Chair bed - Google Patents

Description

E. E. WOLLER CHAIR BED Oct. 27, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Filed Nov. 8, 1950 E. E. WOLLER CHAIR BED Oct. 27, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 8, 1950 Patented ()ct. 27, 1953 OFFICE.

2,656,877 01mm BED Edward E. Weller, Kenosha, Wi,s.-, assignor to Simmons Company, Kenosha, Wis.

Application November 8, 1950, Serial 194,663

. 1. This invention relates generally to convertible furniture and is concerned particularly with a chair-or sofa which maybe convertedinto atbed. Morespecifically, the type of convertibl chair or sofa which embodies the present invention is one which comprises three .hingedly-connecte.d sections-which are longitudinally extensible into co-planar relationship to form'a bed, and in which two of those sections are foldable into overlapping relation with one another and to a position at right angles with the third section to form the chair or sofa, It is the principal object of the-present invention to provide, ina convertible chair or sofa of this type, improved'and-simplifled means for effecting the conversion of the chair or sofa into a bed, and vice versa, and "more specifically to provide a unit of this type wherein the conversion may be effected by manipulation of only one of the foldable sections and without the need for engaging and disengaging any looks or latches. Other objects of the invention will become apparent and the invention will ,beunderstood by reference to the following specification and the accompanying drawings in which there, is illustrated one form of convertible unit embodying the invention. In the-drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a convertible chair unit in accordance with the invention, showing the unit in chair position;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the unit in chair position, showing by means of broken lines the path of movement of oneof the sections of the unit during theconversion from chair, to bed, or viee'versa:

Figure 3- is a sideelevation similar to Figure 2, but showing the "movable sections at an intermediate position;

' Figure 4 is a similar side elevation showing the sections of the unit extended into co-planar relation to form a bed; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the unit illustrated in Figure 4,

Briefly, the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings is a chair H which comprises three relatively foldable sections, viz. a.

stationary seat section or base l3. a back sec: tion 15, and an end section I1, and an operating linkage l9 by means of which the sections may be-locked in chair position, or converted into a bed by manipulation of the end section I! only.

The sections l3, l5 and I! are desirably constructed of angle iron frame members to which a cushion-supporting fabric 21 is attached by meansof short helicals 23. Asiilustrated, the

4 Claims. (Cl. 47)

fabric 2| is of the wire link typecomprisinglongitudinaland transverse sections of wiresuitably interconnected and joined to the helicals 2.3. to provide a resilient support for cushions or the like, and includes a seat panel25 and a unitary panel 21 which is .commonto the back: section I 5 and end section II of the chair. Three removable cushions (Fig. 1) 29, 3| and 3.3 are provided, two of which aresuperimposed on the seat section I 3 to form a seat, the other reclining against the back section I 5 to form a back rest. When the sectionsare aligned to form abed, the cushions 29, 3i and 33 are spread out as a mattress, as shown in 4.

The seat section or base 13 includes a pair of opposed side members 35., and opposed front and rear members 31 rigidly connected to theside members by means of welding or otherwise. Short legs 39 are provided at each oi the four corners of the seat section I3 and may, selllustrated, be formed integrally with the opposed side members 35. One of the flanges-of the legs is desirably turned under so as-to form afoot or pad II for distributing the load over the supporting surface. Extending rearwardly from each of the rear legsand rigidly secured thereto is an angle bracket 43 to which the operating linkage I 9 is pivotally attached at 44.. The rear legs are preferably inclined downwardly .to the rear so thatthe linkage 18 may be attached to the seat section 13 a substantial distance rearwardly of the hinged connection between the seat and back sections without requiring an excessively long mounting bracket, and .acorner brace 45 is secured to the side member 35 and to the rear leg to strengthen the leg against the downward thrust of the operating linkage on the bracket 43. when the unit is used as a chair, as will later be described.

The back section l5 comprises a pair of 0pposed side members 41,. each having. one end hinged at 49 to the seat section and having its other end hinged at 5] to the end section 11. A cross member 53 rigidly connected between the opposed side members 41 adjacent their hinged connection to the seat section 13 serves the dual purpose of anchoring one end of the fabric panel 21 which extends between the back and end sections, and maintaining the spaced-apart relation of the opposed side members 41 of the hack section [5 against the inward pull of the, helicals 23 which support the fabric between the side members. This in turn assures the free action of the hinge connection 49 between the seat and back sections.

The end section |1 comprises a pair of opposed side members 55 each of which is hingedly connected at to one of the side members 41 of the back section and is rigidly connected at its outer end to a cross member 51 which maintains the side members 55 in spaced-apart relation and forms an anchor for the outer end of the fabric panel 21.

When the chair I I is extended to bed position (Fig. 4) the back section I5 is supported at one end by its hinged connection 49 to the seat section l3, and at its other end by a pair of foldable legs 59 pivotally attached at 5| to the side members 41 of the back section l5. The end section I1, in turn, is supported at its inner end by its hinged connection 5| to the back section I5 and at its outer end by a similar pair of foldable legs 6|. An angle iron cross member 63, extending between the foldable legs 59 which support the back section l5, maintains the hingedly connected ends of the back section I5 and end section H in spaced-apart relation against the pull of the helicals 23. The cross member 63 is disposed below the plane of the fabric panel 21 to permit the fabric to be downwardly deflected a substantial distance without interference.

The operating linkage [9, includes the legs 59 and 6|, a curved inner link 65 and an outer link 61, identical linkages preferably being provided at both sides of the unit. The inner link 55 is pivotally connected at 44 to the angle bracket 43 secured to the rear leg of the seat section l3 and is pivoted at its other end to the foldable leg 59 at a point 69. The outer link 61 is pivotally connected at one end to the foldable leg 59 at the point 69, and at its other end to the foldable leg 6| which supports the end section l1. The pivotal connections of the links 65 and 61 to the intermediate legs 59 may be a common connec tion 69, as shown, but it will become apparent from the subsequent description of the operation of the chair embodying the invention that the outer link 61 may be connected either to the intermediate folding leg 59 or to the inner link 65 at a point on either which is remote from the other.

The effective length of the inner link 65 between the pivot centers 43 and 69, and the distance between the pivot centers 5| and 69 of the intermediate foldable leg 59 are such, relative to the length of the back section l5, that the inner link 65 and the intermediate leg 59 form a toggle for rigidly supporting the back section [5 in substantially upright or chair position. From Figure 2, it may be seen that when the toggle knee 69 is disposed forwardly of a line extending between the pivot points 4-4 and 5|, any rearward force exerted against the back section l5 tends to force the toggle knee 69 firmly against the underside of the side members 41 of the back section whereupon the back section is restrained against further rearward movement by the inner link 65. The outwardly curved, lower portion of the inner link 65 disposes its lower end 44 a substantial distance rearwardly of the hinge connection 46 between the seat and back sections for greater bracing effect, and yet permits the end section H to be compactly folded against the back section l5. The outer folding leg 6| is also desirably curved as illustrated so as to depend vertically when the back section l5 and end section l1 are folded (Fig. 2) thus permitting the.

back and end sections to be folded closely together.

To extend the sections l3, l5 and I1 into coplanar, bed position, the operator merely grasps the end section |1, lifting it to the position indicated by the broken lines in Figure 2. If the hinged connections between all relatively movable parts are substantially frictionless, the back-section supporting toggle 4469-5| will remain looked as shown during movement of the end section [1 to the broken line position. That is, the end section l1 and the outer link 61 will pivot freely about the pivot centers 5| and 69 Without disturbing the position of the latter forwardly of the line through the pivot centers 44 and 5|. However, upon further upward movement of the end section I1 from the broken-line position, the curved portion of the outer leg 6| will abut the underside of the side member 55 of the end section H to prevent further relative movement between the end section |1, the legs 59 and 6| and the outer link 61, and the toggle knee 69 will then move rearwardly over-center, thus breaking the look. In the event that the outer foldable leg 6| is shaped otherwise than as illustrated, other positive stop means may be provided to limit relative movement between the end section I1, the legs 59 and 6|, and the link 61, or any adjacent pair of them, in order to assure that the toggle will be broken when the end section is carried rearwardly and upwardly from its folded position. In other words, an appropriately positioned stop means between an adjoining pair of the members just referred to will cause those two members to become fixed relative to one another when the end section I1 is raised sufficiently to cause the stop means to become effective thereby, in effect, converting the quadrilateral linkage 59-55-6|61 into a trilateral one, which is incapable of relative movement. Thus the end section I1 and its appurtenances effectively become fixed to the toggle member 59, whereby further upward movement of the end section breaks the toggle. When the toggle knee passes rearwardly over a line extending between the pivot points 44 and 5|, the back section |5 will recline and the end section |1 may be lowered to the floor, as shown in Figure 3. It will be apparent that further rearward motion of the end section will fully extend the legs 59 and 6|, and bring all sections of the chair into co-planar alignment, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

If, on the other hand, the hinged connections between the relatively movable members of the unit are fairly stiff, the toggle knee 69 may be moved rearwardly past center by only slight upward movement of the end section l1 and the folded back and end sections may be moved more directly rearwardly into bed position without raising the end section to the broken line position shown in Figure 2. That is, the frictional resistance to free pivotal movement of the quadrilateral linkage 5955-6 |61, particularly of the outer leg 6| with respect to the end section H or the link 61, or both, will tend to cause the outer legs and the outer links 61 to prematurely move upwardly in unison with the .end section |1 about the pivot 5| and, consequently, the resulting tension on link 61 will shift the toggle knee 69 over center with respect to the line through the pivot points and 5| and thereby break the look.

For the sake of economy of construction and positive operation, the intermediate folding leg' 59 is preferably pivotally connected to the back section IS on a common axis with the hinge connection 5| between the back and end sections." This conveniently permits the end section II:

to act directlyupen thelegslia, to urge them over center to make the l as for exam:- iiler by the engagement of the downwardly- ,extending dances of l the side members 55 with thehead of the rivet. constitutingqthepivot 59 (Fig. 2) or suitablesubstitute therefor; Howeven, the intermediate fielding leg, 58, may also be connected to the back: sectionnfirat a point spaced from the hingedcennection 51, without departing-linprinciple immmhecperation of the illustrated embodiment. In "such "case, the-abut mentof the curved the outer leg 61 with the underside-oi the side member still operate in the manner previously described tojplacethe outer link 61in tension-andmcve the: toggle knee-4d rearwardly over center: to break :the clock. Moreover; with the leg, 59;-oon- .nccted to. the backsection li at apoint spaced fromlthe econneotion 51,,the folding ofthe end section II relative, to the: back, section: 15 will operate-to make-the toggle look, so long as the leg-58 is positioned so that the pivot 68, during. the folding action of the chairisections, will pass forwardly of the pivots 5| and 44,. Normally, there, will be, .suificient friction in the pivot connections of the outer leg 6| with the side member SS-andthe outer link ,6?! to cause the latter to exert a. thrust on the leg 59during foldingot the back and end sections of thechairbed. However, this purpose, itis obvious that .a stop means may readily be provided between the outer leg 6|, the end section 11,-, and the outer link 61, or any pair of them, so that, at, a predetermined point in the Ioldingaction of the chair-bed, the outer link 57 will thrust the toggle knee 8-9 forwardly over center, with respect toa line through the upper pivot iland the pivot center 44..

a It, will furtherbe-apparent that since the pri mary function of the outer link 5] is to fold and unfold the outer leg '61, the outer link .6] is not confined, as shown, to .a connection .at the toggle knee 69, Satisfactory operation may be obtained by connecting the outer link 51 to the lnnerilink B5 or to the intermediate foldable leg 59 at points on either which are spaced from the hinged connection 69 between those two members 65, and 59. .And in this connection it should "be noted that .in a still different ,situation, where the outer. links] is connected to the inner link 85 and the leg '59 back section lbat a point spaced from the pivot center .51, the thrust of the outer linkb'l during the folding of the bedsections must be directed so-that the point of action of the resultant force on the leg 58 passes forwardly of the line of thepoint of connection ofthe folding leg 59 with the hack section, I5 and-the pivot,

When the'sections J 3, l5 and 1.1 are extended into bed position; as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the cushions 29, 3|, and 33- may be rearranged, asindicatedain Figure A. to ifonnaa mattress for sleeping purposes. This loose cushion arrangement has the advantage of giving the unit more attractive lines when used as a chair but it will be appreciated that the invention may be applied as well to a chair or sofa wherein some or all of the cushions or upholstered portions are integral with the frame sections.

In order to reconvert the unit from a bed to a chair, the operator merely grasps the fabric panel 21 at some point adjacent; the axis of the hinged connection 5! between the back section I5 and the end section l1, and lifts the fabric until the back and end sections assume a partially folded if such trictionis insumcient for is connected to the position; (Fig. 3): during; which: nicvemmt the ontenlegii inwardlynalonathe surface towardthe seat section, 13; Furtherin Wfl-I'd1H1OVW of secticni Hiram the foldedwattitudewshown infignrexar tend it tclift and s to rottztethe outerleg iili teward its fully toldedmo- 51 n.

With the outer. link 61' connected 1 direwly, to the intermediate leg 59 and with the, interme;* diate leg. pivntedlom theaxis H- asshown. the intermediate leg il -will mcveinunism with and section I I ahcuti the pivot center it after relativemo theintermediate leg 53317136 mterflink 6:1 iandithc outer, leg 6 or: any-adiacent pair "of comes restrained. Thereafter, thezendaectirm 13 becomes operable to force the toggle knee :69 forwardly ota line between: the pivot oentuvs'u and 5i tolcck the-unit in chairposi-t-iom as illustrated in-Fig, z. It, willalso be that the .bedrmambe folded into its chair-forming pcsitionr byagcaspanon lifting, member 51, ammwalb ingi forward to. 'move will? upwandlyrandx :forwamdly until the-back section: 4 isndsendmection 1 J assume: the pcsitionrshown. in dotted lines-in Eige ure 2. Having- :reached the indicated it will be apparent thatcdownward movement of A ,endsection ii the 'mt-oczrtm'rizlrwill effect atlmist on the toggle knee 69; through the outer link :61, to makeriihe toggle clock.

It will be aapparentvrmm theforegoinx; tionthat the oonvertibleunit of irumitune one bodying the. vention ismgreatlyimpmvedmu in whichthe com/endows! the.- unit: imminor'sofa :to a bed-maybe slmnhn-andieasfly afl'ected bytmanipulating cnlyene of: the ramble-sections which comprise-thematic This; immnvedopem tion-results from the pravisien oi a novelioperata whidr is. inhenentlv'capable: of: 1: unit in chair-position .znd which may, hie-readily locked and ,umocked as dent itcttheamanipulata'onof the aforommtioned one section.

The features of, the invention; which ,aremhw lieveditc hemewi and patentahle are ,setifm th cm the .followiugfilaims;

Iclolm: v 1. A convertible ohaira'bed 1: mun-J prisinga-stationamseatsection, a i right; back:sectionpiratedv tic-the: rear, offal-id andendsecticnpivomlly. emented sectionrand-normally -dcpendingy-fnom said back section? atthe roan themot, said back scctiomnndsaid Lend-sectionbelmgrearwordly extensible into co-planar--alignment with said form a bed, acdepending foldableileg ptvotedto said sectionadiaoent the upper md of :said back section for supporting section in bed position, a linkpivotedtosaidfiog and .izo' said seat section, the pivotal connection of said link to said seat section being spaced rearwardly from the pivotal connection of said back section to said seat section, said leg and said link forming a toggle for locking said back section against rearward movement from its upright position when the pivotal connection between said link and said leg is disposed forwardly of a line extending between the pivotal connection of said leg to said back section and the pivotal connection of said link to said seat section, a second foldable leg pivoted to said end section near its betweenhthe end eectioni ll,

smt section to lower end for supporting said end section in bed position, a second link pivoted to said second leg and to one of the members of said toggle, and means for limiting relative movement in one direction between said end section and said second-leg whereby rearward movement of said end section away from its normal position is effective to break said toggle lock and to unfold said legs, thereby permitting said sections to assume said bed position.

2. A three-section convertible chair-bed comprising a stationary seat section, a normally upright back section pivoted to the rear'of said seat section, an end section pivotally connected at its upper end to the upper end of said back section and normally depending from said back section at the rear thereof, said back section and said end section being rearwardly extensible into co-planar alignment with said seat section to form a bed, a depending foldable leg pivoted to said back section adjacent the upper end of said back section for supporting said back section in bed position, a link pivoted to said leg and to said seat section, the pivotal connection of'said link to said seat section being spaced rearwardly from the pivotal connection of said back section to said seat section, said leg and said linkforming a toggle for locking said back section against rearward movement from its upright position when the pivotal connection between said link and said 0 leg is disposed forwardly of a line extending between the pivotal connection of said leg to said back section andthepivotal connection of said link to said seat section, a second foldable leg pivoted to said end section near its lower end for supporting said end section in bed position, a second link'pivoted to said second leg and to one of the members of said toggle, and means for limiting relative movement in one direction between said second leg and said second link whereby rearward movement of said end section away from its normal position is effective to break said toggle lock and to unfold said legs, thereby permitting said sections to assume said bed position.

3. A three-section convertible chair-bed comprising a stationary seat section, a normally upright back section pivoted to the rear of said seat section, and an end section pivotally connected at its upper end to the upper end of said back section and normally depending from said back section at the rear thereof; said back section and said end section being rearwardly extensible into co-planar alignment with said seat section to form a bed, a depending foldable leg pivoted to said back section for supporting said back section in bed position, said pivotal connections of said leg and said end section to said back section having a common axis, a link pivoted to said leg and to said seat section, the pivotal connection of said link to said seat section being spaced rearwardly from the pivotal connection of said back section to. said seat section, said leg and said link forming a toggle for locking said back section against rearward movement from said upright position when the pivotal con nection between said link and said leg is disposed forwardly of a line extending between the pivotal connection of said leg to said back section and the pivotal connection of said link to said seat section, a second foldable leg pivoted to said end section near the lower end of said end section for supporting said end section in bed position, a second link pivoted to said second leg and to said first mentioned leg, and a first means limiting relative movement in one direction between said end section and said legs whereby unfolding movement of said end section is effective tobreak said toggle lock and to unfold said legs, and a second means limiting relative movement in the other direction between said end section and said legs whereby folding movement of said end section is effective to make said toggle lock and to fold said legs.

A three-section convertible chair-bed comprising a stationary seat section, a normally upright back section pivoted to the rear of said seat section, an end section pivotally connected at its upper end to the upper end of said back sec tion and normally depending from said back section at the rear thereof, said back section and said end section being rearwardly extensible into coplanar alignment with said seat section to form a bed, a depending foldable leg pivotedto said backsection adjacent the upper end of said back section for supporting said back section in bed position, a link pivoted to said leg andto said seat section, the pivotal connection of said link to said seat section being spaced rearwardly of the pivotal connection of said back section to section, said leg and link forming a toggle for locking said back section against rearward movement from its upright position when the pivotal connection between said link and said ieg is disposed forwardly f a line extending between the pivotal connection of said leg to said back section and the pivotal connection of said link to said seat section, a second foldable leg pivoted to said end section near its lower end for supporting said end section in bed position, a second link pivoted to said second leg and to one of the members of said toggle, and means for limiting relative movement in one direction between said end section and one of said legs whereby rearward movement of said end section away from its normal position is effective to break said toggle lock and to unfold said legs, thereby permitting said sections to assume said bed position.

' EDWARD E. WOLLER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number

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