US2749559A

US2749559A - Sofa bed

Info

Publication number: US2749559A
Application number: US302870A
Authority: US
Inventors: John S Petersen
Original assignee: Simmons USA Corp
Current assignee: Simmons USA Corp
Priority date: 1952-08-06
Filing date: 1952-08-06
Publication date: 1956-06-12
Anticipated expiration: 1973-06-12

Description

.fune l2, 1956 J.. S. PETERSEN SOFA BED 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 6, 1952 XM, im Mdm J. s. PETERSEN June 12, 1956 SOFA BED 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 6, 1952 June 12, 1956 J. s. PETERSEN 2,749,559

SOFA BED Filed Aug. 6, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 will .MH Wn:

nllllllll ko Y June 12, 1956 J. s. PETERSEN SOFA BED 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 June 12, 1956 J. s. PETERSEN SOFA BED 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 6, 1952 M pe www@ if m l Mr g JWM fl/@wlw Jane 12, 1956 J. s. PETERSEN 2,749,559

soFA BED Filed Aug. 6, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 is i 149 'A 45 L lllmllno Mfmw@ June l2, 1956 J. s. PETERSEN SOFA BED 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Aug. 6, 1952 .QN NNN MN QN Nw United States Patent O sona BED John S. Petersen, Kenosha, Wis., assignor to Simmons Company, Kenosha, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application August 6, 1952, Serial No. 302,870

3 Claims. (Cl. 5-13) This invention relates to improvements in sofa-beds, and is particularly directed to a sofa bed of the type comprising a stationary sofa frame and a foldable bed bottom wherein one of the bed-bottom section is superposable over another of the sections to form the sofa seat, with the mattress or a portion thereof folded between the superposed sections. Removable seat cushions are usually emplaced upon the folded bed bottom sections to increase the seating comfort.

In sofa-beds of the type described, the superposed, seatforrning sections normally partially underlie the back rest portion of the sofa when folded into the sofa frame, and it is desirable that they be movable to and from seatforming position on the sofa frame without interfering with the lower edge of the back rest. lf a mattress of substantial thickness is employed, it may, when folded, exert considerable force tending to unfold the superposed sections and, in the absence of special provision, may require the application of direct manual force to depress the upper one of the superposed sections in order to prevent interference with the back rest during movement of the folded bed bottom to and from its seat-forming position.

Accordingly, it is the main object of the present invention to provide a sofa-bed having improved mechanism for automatically and positively interconnecting the superposed sections of the foldable bed bottom and for fully folding said sections against the expansive force of the folded mattress, and for locking the sections in fully folded condition, all as an incident to their movement into seat-forming position on the sofa frame.

A preferred embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of the skeletal sofa frame and the bed bottom in fully extended position;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan View of the stfucture in Figure l, with the mattress removed;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation illustrating an intermediate folded position of the outer or foot section of the bed bottom;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective View of the sofabed showing the relationship of a portion of the foldable bed bottom to the arm rest and front board of the sofa frame;

Figures 5 and 6 are side selevations, partly broken away, showing progressively advanced folded positions of the bed bottom in its movement from the fully extended position of Figure l to the fully closed position;

Figure 7 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion oi the foldable sections, showing the automatic locking mechanism in two positions corresponding with the fully extended and fully folded positions of the bed bottom;

Figures 8 and 9 are side elevations similar to Figs. 5 and 6, and showing further intermediate positions of the bed bottom sections as they are moved toward the fully closed position, various parts having been broken away or omitted in the interest of clarity;-

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the structure shown in Figure 4, with the front board detached and moved out of its normal position to illustrate its attachment to the sidearms;

Figure 1l is an enlarged side elevation showing the bed bottom in fully folded seat-forming position, with certain parts omitted or broken away to more clearly show the relationship of other parts;

Figure 12 is an enlarged, fragmentary plan view of the structure shown in Figure 2;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary view of the inner sides of the front boards of the sofa-bed; and

Figure 14 is a perspective view of the entire sofa-bed with the bed-bottom folded into the sofa frame and with the removable seat cushions in place for normal sofa use.

The preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings comprises a stationary upholstered frame 21, and a bed bottom 23 comprising four hingedly connected, relatively

foldable sections

25, 27, 29 and 31 which are movably connected to the sofa frame 21, and shiftable thereon from a fully extended bed position (Fig. l) to a fully folded seat position (Fig. 1l). A unitary mattress 33, preferably one of inner'spring construction, is supported upon the bed bottom.

The sofa frame 21 comprises a skeletal metal frame secured to and supported by a pair of arm rests 35, and having an upholstered back rest 37 behind which there is provided with a inner compartment 39 for receiving the innermost or head section 25 of the bed bottom in vertical position when the bed bottom is fully folded into seat position on the sofa frame, as shown in Fig. 1l. With the bed bottom in seat-forming position, the intermediate section 27 is disposed horizontally along the bottom of the sofa frame and the other intermediate section 29 is disposed vertically at the front of the sofa frame. The outer or foot section 31 extends rearwardly from the upper end of the intermediate section 29, in overlying relation to the intermediate section 27, and with its free end beneath the forwardly projectingv back rest 37.

When the bed bottom is folded into seat-forming position (Fig. ll) the mattress is folded into three well-dened sections, i. e. a vertical portion corresponding with the head section of the bed bottom, and a pair of superposed portions compressed between the foot section and the horizontal intermediate section. Being normally flat, the mattress tends to resist the folding action of the bed bottom, and unless suitable means is provided to positively and fully fold the foot section 31, the mattress tends to urge the foot section upwardly to prevent its free passage under the upholstered back rest 37 during movement to and from the seat formingV position. This is particularly true when a relatively thick, inner spring mattress is provided.

The improved construction described in detail in the following incorporates an improved locking mechanism which is positive in its action throughout the folding and unfolding movement of the bed bottom, and which maintains the fully folded relation of the foot section 31 and the

intermediate sections

27 and 29 against the resiliency of the mattress so that ample clearance between the folded bed bottom and the upholstered back rest 37 is assured, Furthermore, the positive locking action referred to is accomplished automatically in response to the movement of the bed bottom into seat forming position without requiring additional manipulation by the operator.

Referring initially to Figure 1 for a detailed description of the preferred embodiment, the skeletal sofa frame 21 comprises a pair of side frame sections 41 connected together by suitable cross members 43 and reinforced to provide a rigid structure. Each of the side frame sections includes a short front post 45 and a taller rear post 47 connected at their lower ends by means of a horizontal transverse member 49, the whole being desirably formed from a single length of angle iron and being reinforced by means of corner braces 51. Extending forwardly and downwardly from the upper end of the rear post member is a back-rest member 53, also desirably formed of angle iron, and which is braced at its lower end by a forwardly extending bar 55 secured both to the rear post and to the lower end of the back rest member. The bar 55, in addition to bracing the back rest member, also constitutes one point of attachment of the bcd bottom 23 to the stationary frame, as will later appear. The cross members 43 which connect the two side frames 41 extend between the upper and lower rear corners of the two side frames, and between the lower ends of the back rest members. The entire skeletal frame is secured to the arm rests which are raised above the tioor level by means of short legs 57, the frame and arm rests being upholstered as a unit.

The two side frame sections 41 are also connected together at their lower forward ends by means of a fixed front board 59 which is detachably secured to the front posts in the manner shown n Fig. 10. The front board is provided at either end with a metal plate 61 (Fig. l0) to which there is secured a threaded stud 63 flanked by a pair of metal dowel pins 65. The forwardly facing iiange of the front post 45 is drilled to accommodate the stud and pins, and the front board is made fast with the front posts by means of a nut 67 threaded on the stud 63. This feature of construction is of particular importance in maintaining the arm rests 35, which are fixed to the side frames 41, in correct position against the strain of movement of the sofa bed, and in maintaining adequate clearance for the passage of the bed bottom 23 between the arm rests.

In accordance with current practice, the base of the sofa frame may be provided with a decorative iiaunce of the covering material, the front ounce 69 being tacked or otherwise secured to the removable, stationary front board 59. In order to conceal the line of separation of the front board and arm rest, the flounce is preferably extended to the outer edge of the arm rest and secured thereto by means of a metal strap 71 fastened to the front face of the arm rest by means of screws 73 which may readily be removed when it is desired to remove the front board.

As already indicated, the bed bottom 23 comprises four relatively foldable sections, viz., an inner or head section 25, a first intermediate section 27, a second intermediate section 29, and an outer or foot section 31, which are hingedly interconnected at their adjacent ends.

The head section 25 comprises a U-shaped frame which is reinforced by means of corner braces. The first and second

intermediate sections

27 and 29 each comprise simply a pair of side members, both intermediate sections and the head section being desirably formed of angle iron, and the hinged connections between the sections being made by means of riveted

hinge pins

75 and 77 passing through the vertical flanges of the angle iron side members.

The foot section 31 of the bed bottom is generally U-shaped and preferably of tubular construction, comprising a pair of opposed side members 79 of rectangular cross section closed at their outer, exposed ends by means of a suitable end cap, and welded adjacent their outer ends to a cross member 81 of generally elliptical cross section.

The foot section 31 is somewhat wider than the adjacent intermediate section 29, and a sidewardly projecting angle bracket 83 is secured to the intermediate section 29 to facilitate the interconnection of these two members, which is also effected by means of a riveted hinge pin 85 passing through the side member 79 of the foot section and the vertical flange of the bracket 83 (Fig. 12).

The mattress-supporting fabric comprises a unitary wire link portion 87, which is common to the head section and the two intermediate sections, and a textile fabric portion 89 in the foot section. The wire link portion is connected along three of its sides to the adjacent frame members by means of helicals 91. By means of similar helicals, the textile portion 89 is secured at its inner end to the wire link portion, and to a metal strip 93 welded to the cross tube 31 of the outer section. To prevent tearing, the connections of the helicals to the textile portion of the fabric are preferably made indirectly by means of metal strips 95 which are enclosed within hems in the attachment edges of the textile portion, and which are perforated to receive the end hooks of the helicals. A tiap extension 97 of the inner edge of the textile portion of the fabric is preferably connected to a movable front board, still to be described, as and for the purposes dcscrioed is U. S. Patent No. 2,352,989, Woller.

The heaviest load on the fabric, whether folded or unfolded, is generally to be expected in the first intermediate section 27, and to minimize sagging, a stitfening member 99 is provided in that section. The stiflening member desirably comprises one or more tubular cross members secured to a pair of flat end bars which are suspended, along with the coextensive portion of the wire link fabric, and by common helicals, from the angle iron side members of the intermediate section (Fig. 2) in the manner more fully shown and described in the copending application of Edward E. Woller, Ser. No. 113,188, filed August 30, 1949.

To resist the inward pull of the fabric between the opposed side members of the head section 25 and the adjacent end of the first intermediate section 27, a spreader bar 101 is secured between the side members of the head section near the joint between the two sections (Figs. l and 2) and is preferably downwardly bowed so as not to interfere with the resilient deflection of the fabric. The inward pull exerted by the fabric on the other sections of the bed bottom is borne by various elements of the supporting under-structure, later to be described.

The bed bottom 23 is movably connected with the stationary sofa frame 21 at two points, one on the head section 25 and one on the first intermediate section 27. The movable connection between the frame and the head section comprises a pair of

links

103 and 105 of unequal length, each pivoted at one end to the forwardly extending bar 55 which braces the lower end of the back rest support member, and at its other end to a plate 107 which is detachably secured by means of bolts and suitable dowel pins to the side members of the head section 25. This pair of links determines a fixed path of movement for the head section between its forwardly extended, horizontal position (Fig. l) and its folded position (Fig. 1l), wherein it is disposed vertically at the rear of the sofa frame with its inner end retracted into the space 39 behind the upholstered back rest.

The connection between the stationary frame and the intermediate section 27 of the bed bottom comprises an arm or link 109 pivoted at its lower end to an angle bracket 111 removably attached to the side frame 41 (Figs. 5 and l0) and pivoted at its upper end to an angle bracket 113 welded to the side member of the intermediate section 27 (Fig. 5).

The angle bracket 111 is secured by means of bolts to the horizontal flange of the frame member 49 and is provided in the upper edge of its upstanding flange with a locator notch 115, the purpose of which will later be described. It will be understood that identical connections are provided between the bed bottom and the stationary frame on both sides of the bed bottom, and for the purpose of assuring the operation of those members in unison, the support arms 109 at opposite sides of the bed bottom are connected by a cross tube 117 to which each is rigidly attached.

To facilitate the movement of the bed bottom into and out of the sofa frame, a portion of the weight of the bed bottom and its associated mattress is counterbalanced by a set of three tension springs 119 at either side of the bed bottom. Each set of springs is connected at one end to a plate 121 pivoted in common with the upper end of the support arm 109 to the angle bracket 113 on the intermediate section 27, and at its other end to a similar plate 123 pivoted to the upper end of the front post 45 of the stationary frame (Fig. l0). it will be apparent by a comparison of Figs. 1, 8 and 1l, that the springs 119 are stressed most at the fully folded and fully extended positions of the bed bottom, and least at the mid-position of Fig. S, thus assisting the operator in overcoming gravity during both the folding and unfolding movements of the bed bottom.

For convenience in handling, the bed bottom may be separated from the stationary frame by disconnecting the springs 119 and by removing the bolts and screws which secure the angle brackets 111 to the side frame 41, and the plates 107 to the head section 25 of the bed bottom.

1n addition to its movable connections with the stationary frame, the bed bottom is supported in fully extended position by a pair of foldable outer legs 125 pivoted to the outer section 31 adjacent its outer end, and by a pair of foldable inner legs 127 pivoted to a bracket 129 secured to the first intermediate section 27 adjacent the joint between the two intermediate sections.

The outer legs 125 are tubular, like the side members of the foot section, and when fully extended are engaged by hook-shaped bracket 131 secured to the Side member. This hooked bracket is disposed below the pivotal connections of the legs to the side members and serves to brace the leg against sideward movement. Secured to each outer leg in the vicinity of its pivotal connection to the foot section, is a spacer post 133 which is perpendicular to the leg axis and lies generally in the plane of the foot section when the leg is extended. However, when the leg is folded, the post 133 is perpendicular tothe plane of the foot section and serves to support the foot section when the latter is folded, as will later appear.

The inner legs 127, one disposed at either side of the bed bottom, are rigidly connected by a cross member 135 which is effective through the connection of the inner legs to the intermediate section 27 to resist the inward pull of the fabric on the side members of the two intermediate sections and thus, to prevent binding at the hinge joint between those two sections.

A similar bracing effect is provided in the vicinity of the hinge joint between the outer section 31 and the second intermediate section 29 by a movable frontboard 137 which is pivotally suspended from the foot section adjacent the joint between those two sections (Figs. l, 2 and 12.) The movable front board comprises a wooden board secured to a transverse angle iron member 139 having its ends bent at right angles to the main portion, and having welded to each end an upstanding arm 141 (Figs. l and 12), which is pivoted to the side member 79 of the foot section. The main function of the movable front board 137, however, is to cooperate with the fixed front board 59 in concealing the folded bed bottom in seat-forming position, and to accomplish this purpose, it is moved from its underslung position beneath the foot and second intermediate sections (Fig. 1), to an upright position atop and in alinement with the fixed front board (Figs. 11 and 13) as an incident to the folding lmovement of the bed bottom. A metal tongue 143 secured to the inner face of the movable front board engages a V-shaped notch in a cooperating angle bracket 145 on the inner face of the fixed front board to positively aline the two boards as the bed bottom moves into fully folded position (Fig. 13).

The folding movement of the movable front board and the folding of the support legs is effected automatically as an incident to the folding of the bed bottom, by a linkage including the

links

147, 149 and 151.

The link 147 extends between the inner leg 127 and a bracket 153 secured to the head section of the bed bottom, the pivotal connection 155 of the link to the bracket being spaced substantially below the pivotal connection 75 between the head section and first intermediate section when the bed bottom is fully extended (Fig. 1). Link 149 is pivoted at its inner end to the inner leg 127 on a common pivot with link 147, and at its outer end to the movable front board 137. The link 151 is pivoted at its inner end to the movable front board 137, and at its outer end to the outer leg at a point substantially below the pivotal connection of the outer leg to the foot section. Link 151 is provided with a stop pin 157 which limits the folding of the outer leg.

The action of the

links

147, 149 a-nd 151 in folding the

support legs

127 and 125, and in locating the movable front board 137 in position for alinement with the stationary front board 59 when the bed bottom is folded into seat forming position, is illustrated progressively by Figs. 1, 3, 5, 7 and 8, Fig. l showing the fully extended or starting position. From Fig. 3 it will be apparent that by folding of the foot section 31 into right angular relation with the intermediate section 29, the movable front board 137 is lifted slightly, and although the inner end of the link 151 is similarly lifted, there is sufficient relative movement between the foot section and the link 151 to fold the outer leg 125 into the plane of the foot section, simultaneously extending the spacer post 133 outwardly at right angles to that plane. The stop pin 157 prevents the folding of the leg 125 past center.

Folding movement of the outer section 31 relative to the second intermediate section 29 is limited, by means not yet described, at the right angular position shown in Figure 3, and those two sections thereafter fold as a unit about the hinged joint 77 between the two intermediate sections (Fig. 5). The last mentioned folding movement lifts the movable front board 137 to a position in front of the second intermediate section 29.

Further folding of the bed bottom is effected by grasping and lifting the lower edge of the movable front board 137. It will be apparent from Fig. 6 that as the head section 25 and the first intermediate section 27 move inwardly toward the frame, they fold about their common connection 75, with the result that the pivotal attachment of the link 147 to the head section moves rearwardly relative to the first intermediate section 27, and the link 147 folds the inner leg 135 rearwardly against the underside of the first intermediate section 27. The folding of the leg is substantially completed at the position indicated in Fig. 9, inasmuch as continued movement of the folded bed bottom sections into seat forming position is accomplished without substantial further relative folding movement of the head and first intermediate sections. The bed bottom comes to rest when a stud 159 on the link 149 seats itself in the previously described notch 115 in the detachable mounting bracket 111 of the main support arms 109 (Fig. 11).

The extension of the foldable legs and the movement of the movable front board to its underslung position beneath the foot section, is automatically effected by the occurrence of the foregoing movements in reverse order.

Whenthe bed bottom is fully folded into seat position, the spacer post 133 extends downwardly from the free end of the foot section, with its lower end disposed above and slightly spaced from the horizontal flange of an angle bracket 161 riveted or otherwise secured to the lower horizontal member 49 of the side frame 41. With the parts in the position indicated in Figure 11, the weight of the occupant or occupants is initially transmitted from the removable seat cushions 162 through the textile fabric S9 to the underlying folded mattress 33. If that weight is substantial, the foot section 31 may be depressed until the lower end of the spacer post 133 contacts the angle bracket 161, which resists further downward movement of the foot section.

It will be noted from Figs. 5 and 6 that when the foot section 31 is folded into overlying relation with the intermediate section 27, the two sections are prevented, by the expansive force of the folded mattress, from assuming a parallel relation. Furthermore, it will be apparent upon inspection of Figures 8 and 9 that if these two sections were not fully folded into parallel relation in the illustrated position, they would not pass freely beneath the back rest 37. In the embodiment shown, the drawing of the foot and intermediate sections into fully folded relation is accomplished by means of

links

163, 165 and 167.

Referring first to Figs. 2, 3 and 12, the short link 163 is pivoted at one end to the foot section 31, and is provided at its other end with a longitudinally extending slot 169 which encompasses a pin 171 projecting sidewardly from the intermediate section 29. The inner end of the slot 169 has an offset recess 173 which extends downwardly from the slot when the bed bottom is fully extended, and the juncture of the two slot portions is sufiieiently curved that when the foot section 31 is folded relative to the second intermediate section 29 and the pin 171 travels toward the inner end of the slot, it is positively cammed into the offset slot portion 173 to prevent further relative folding movement of the two sections (Fig. 3).

The link 165 overlaps the joint 77 between the two

intermediate sections

27 and 29, being disposed on the inside of the vertical fianges of the side members of those sections and pivoted at its outer end to the second intermediate section 29. At its inner end, the link 165 is provided with a headed pin 175 which is received in, and extends outwardly through, an elongated slot 177 in the vertical iiange of the side member of the first intermediate section 27. This pin-and-slot connection permits relative folding movement between the two intermediate sections from the position indicated in Fig. 3 to that indicated in Fig. 5, and does not limit that movement during normal operation of the bed.

Upon inspection of Fig. 5, it will also be noted that the offset portion 173 of the slot 169 in the link 163 now extends upwardly, so that the pin 171 is maintained in the offset portion by the force of gravity acting upon the link. ln this position, the link serves to prevent relative unfolding movement of the outer section 31 relative to the second intermediate section 29.

The drawing of the foot section 31 and second intermediate section 29 downwardly and rearwardly as a unit with respect to the first intermediate section, is effected by the link 167 which extends along the side of the first intermediate section 27, and which is pivoted at its inner end to the bracket 153 on a common pivot 155 with the link 147. Accordingly, when the head section 25 and first intermediate section 27 arc folded relative to one another by movement of the partially folded bed bottom into the sofa frame, the link 167 is drawn rearwardly with respect to the first intermediate section 27, in the manner already explained in connection with the link 147.

At its other end, the link 167 is provided with two more or less longitudinally extending

slots

179 and 181, the slot 179 encompassing a fixed, sidewardly projecting pin 183 on the first intermediate section 27, and the slot 181 receiving the headed pin 175 at the inner end of the link 165. The slot 179 is essentially a cam slot which causes the outer end of the link 167 to move downwardly as it is shifted rearwardly.

The lower edge of the slot 181 is straight throughout the entire length, Whereas the upper edge is straight and parallel with the lower edge in only its outer half portion. The inner half-portion is upwardly offset and sloped to provide a shoulder or hook 1S5 for engaging the pin 175. When the head section 25 and the first intermediate section 27 are co-planar, that is, before any relative folding has occurred, the slot 181 of the link 167, and the slot 177 in the first intermediate section 27 are in registry and substantially co-extensive, the link 1,67 being lifted by the cam slot 179 so that the pin 175 is clear of the hook 185 and free to move longitudinally of both slots in order to permit folding and unfolding of the foot and second intermediate sections. The relation of the two

pins

183 and 175 relative to their respective slots when the bed bottom is fully extended is indicated by the solid line portions of Fig. 7, the pins being near the opposite ends of the slots.

When the foot section 31 and second intermediate section 29 are folded as a unit relative to the first intermediate section 27, the pin 175 on the link 165 is moved toward the inner ends of its associated slots 177 and 181 (Fig. 5). On `continued folding movement of the bed bottom into the sofa frame, the link 167 moves rearwardly, and its outer end downwardly at the same time, to bring the hook or shoulder into engagement with the pin 175 and to draw the same still further rearwardly in the slot 177 in the intermediate section 27. It will be apparent that since the outer section 31 and the second intermediate section 29 are locked together by the link 163, the rearward pull on the pin 175 is effective to draw the foot section 31 downwardly into fully folded condition against the expansive force of the mattress.

Again, comparing Figs. 5, S and 9, it will be apparent that the relative folding of the head section 25 and first intermediate section 27 is substantially completed by the time the position indicated in Figure 8 is attained. For that reason, the rearward movement of the link 167 is also completed, and the foot section 31 is automatically and fully folded before it approaches the upholstered back rest 37 in its movement into seat-forming position. This is due to the fact that the initial movement of the pivot point relative to the intermediate section 27 is primarily in a rearward direction. Thus the shoulder 18S engages the pin and draws it rearwardly, and the pin 183 reaches the outer end of the cam slot 179 before any substantial upward movement of the pivot point 155 relative to the intermediate section 27 has occurred. However, in the latter portion of the final folding movement, the direction of movement of the pivot point 155 relative to the first intermediate section 27 is primarily upward, tending to rotate the link 167 upwardly about the point of contact between the hook 185 and the pin 175, and a downwardly extending offset 187 is provided in the outer end of the cam slot 179 in order to permit this upward movement of the link without springing of the parts.

Similarly, the unfolding of the bed bottom from the fully folded position of Fig. 11 to the partially unfolded position of Fig. 5, disengages the hook 185 from the pin 175 and places the slot 181 of the link 167 and the slot 177 of the first intermediate section 27 in registry, to permit subsequent unfolding of the outer section 31 and intermediate section 29 as a unit about the pivot 77 between the two intermediate sections. When the position of Fig. 3 is reached, the link 163 drops by gravity to remove the pin 171 from the offset recess 173, thus permitting unfolding of the foot section 31 into co-planar alignment with the other sections.

In the foregoing, there has been described an improved sofa bed construction of the type in which two relatively foldable bed bottom sections are superimposed, with a folded mattress inbetween, to form a sofa seat, and in which said sections are automatically and positively drawn into fully folded condition as an incident to the movement of the bed bottom into the sofa frame. This construction is especially useful when thick, innerspring mattresses are employed, and has the advantage of positively preventing interference between the movable bed bottom and the back rest of the stationary frame during the movement of the bed bottom into and out of the frame, thus further simplifying and improving the operation of sofa beds of the general type identified.

The features of the invention believed to be new and patentablc are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a sofa bed having a normally stationary frame and a foldable bed bottom comprising inner and outer sections, iirst and second intermediate sections pivotally connected together and respectively to said inner and outer sections, and shiftable supporting means pivotally inter-connecting said inner section and said first intermediate section with said frame whereby said bed bottom sections may be extended from said frame in coplanar relation or retractably folded into said frame with said inner section extending upwardly at the rear of said frame and with said lirst intermediate section disposed at the bottom of said frame and with said outer section overlying said first intermediate section and spaced therefrom by said second intermediate section to form a sofa seat, the improvement comprising an operative connection between said inner section and said intermediate and outer sections whereby said outer section is drawn downwardly toward said rst intermediate section as said sections are shifted into said folded position and said outer and intermediate sections are secured against relative unfolding movement while said sections occupy said folded position, said operative connection including a member pivotally connected with said outer section and releasably engaging said second intermediate section to limit the relative folding movement of said outer and second intermediate sections and to lock said sections together when said outer section overlies said first intermediate section, a link pivotally connected to said second intermediate section and including a pin having a lost motion connection with said first intermediate section, a latch bar pivoted to said inner section and having a hook portion disposed for releasably engaging said linkpin, and interengaged pin-and-slot guide means on said latch bar and first intermediate section for positively guiding said hook portion into and out of engagement with said link-pin as said bed bottom sections are retractably folded and extended, respectively, with respect to said frame.

2. In a sofa bed having a normally stationary frame and a foldable bed bottom comprising inner and outer sections, rst and second intermediate sections pivotally connected together and respectively to said inner and outer sections, and shiftable supporting means pivotally interconnecting said inner section and said first intermediate section with said frame whereby said bed bottom sections may be extended from said frame in Co-planar relation or retractably folded into said frame with said inner section extending upwardly at the rear of -said frame and with said first intermediate section disposed at the bottom of said frame and with said outer section overlying said rst intermediate section and spaced therefrom by said second intermediate section to form a sofa seat, the improvement comprising an operative connection between said inner section and said intermediate and outer sections whereby said outer section is drawn downwardly toward said rst intermediate section as `said sections are shifted into said folded position and said outer and intermediate sections are secured against relative unfolding movement while said section-s occupy said folded position, said operative connection including a first link pivotally connected to said outer section and having formed therein a slot slidably engaging a pin on said second intermediate section, said link also having a recess offset from said slot at one end thereof and extending downwardly therefrom when said sections are co-planarly extended, said pin being positioned to limit the relative folding movement of said outer and said second intermediate sections by its abutment with said link at said slot end and engageable by said recess to lock said outer and said second intermediate sections together when said outer section overlies said first intermediate section, a second link pivotally connected to said second intermediate section and having a pin slidably engaging a longitudinally extending slot formed in said first intermediate section to permit relative folding movement of said intermediate sections, a latch bar pivotally connected to said inner section at a point displaced from the pivotal connection between said inner and rst intermediate sections and having formed therein a slot slidably engaging said link-pin, said latch bar being longitudinally shiftable by relative folding movement of said inner and first intermediate sections, said slot in said latch bar including an offset portion adapted to holdingly engage and draw rearwardly said link-pin upon rearward shifting motion of said latch bar by the movement of said inner section into said upwardly extending position, and means for guiding said lach bar in its longitudinally shifting movement including a pin on said first intermediate section and a cam slot formed in said latch bar whereby the latter is positively guided into and out of a position establishing a xed engagement of said link-pin with said offset portion of the rst mentioned latch bar slot.

3. A foldable bed bottom for sofa beds or the like including at least two hingedly connected sections which are relatively foldable to a position with one of said sections overlying the other of said sections, mounting means movably connected to said sections for shiftably supporting said sections on a sofa frame whereby said sections when folded are shiftable inwardly of said frame with said one section uppermost to form a sofa seat, and an operative connection between said mounting means and said sections whereby said inward movement of -said sections is effective to draw said two sections together into fixedly folded relation, said operative connection including a link connected with said one section and having thereon a pin disposed within a longitudinal slot in said other section, said pin being movable rearwardly in said slot by the folding of said two sections into superposed relation, a latch member pivotally connected to said mounting means and having a hook portion disposed above and forwardly of said pin when said two sections are superposed and before said sections are shifted into said 4seat position, said latch member being shiftable rearwardly relative to said pin by the shifting of said sections into seat position, said latch member and said other section having interengaged pin-and-cam-slot guide means for moving said latch member downwardly as an incident to its rearward movement thereby to forcibly engage said hook portion with said link pin and to draw the same rearwardly in its slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,127,874 Dyke Feb. 9, 1915 1,210,432 De Does Ian. 2, 1917 2,595,038 Woller Apr. 29, 1952 2,642,583 Bank et al. June 23, 1953