US2784766A

US2784766A - Chair foldable to form a bed

Info

Publication number: US2784766A
Application number: US330813A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hale Ruth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1953-01-12
Filing date: 1953-01-12
Publication date: 1957-03-12
Anticipated expiration: 1974-03-12

Description

March 12, 195? R. HALE 2,784,766

CHAIR FOLDABLE TO FORM A BED Filed Jan. 12, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIE. .z

IN VEN TOR. 2P0 TH HALE ATTJRNEI/A R. HALE CHAIR FOLDABLE TO FORM A BED March 12, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 12. 1953 United CHAIR FOLDABLE T Foam A unit) Ruth Hale, Minneapoiis, Minn. Application January 12, 1953; Serial No. 339,313

7 Claims. (Cl. 155-47) This invention relates to a chair, and particularly to a chair comprising a'stati-onary section and pivoted section's. Said pivoted sections are swingable together to form the back of said chair and are also swingable into substantial horizontal alignment with each other and with said first mentioned section to form a bed. Said first mentioned section is provided with legs and said second and third sections carry leg members which are pivoted to be swung between said second and third sections when said sections form the back of said chair.

It is an object of this invention to provide such a chair as above set forth which is of simple construction and which can be easily converted from its position forming a chair to its position forming a bed.

It is another object of the invention to provide a chair having a stationary section comprising a substantially rectangular frame having a cushion at its top with leg members supporting said frame, a second section pivoted to the rear side of said section and also comprising a substantially rectangular frame with a cushion at it's top, together with athird section pivoted to the free side of said second section, said third section also comprising a substantially rectangular frame with a cushion at its top, said second and third sections being swingable' into substantially horizontal position with their cushions substantially aligned with the cushion of said first mentioned sec tion to'form ab'ed, said-second and third sections cornprising? pivoted members adapted to be extended to form legs and which arefold'able between saidsccond'and third sections when the latter are in positionforming the back of saidchair;

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following" description madein connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the-several views andinwhich:

Fig. 1 is a viewin sideeleva-tion of the'chair;

Fig.- 2 is a partial view showing certain sections in different positions;

Fig. 3' is a partial vertical section taken centrally through the chair showing sections in partly folded'position;

Fig. 4 is a partial view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modification;

Fig; 5 isa view in side elevation showing the chair in Fig. is a broken away portion on an enlarged scale with a portion thereof in vertical section.

Referring to the drawings, a device isshown comprisingka' stationary section 10. This sectioncomprises a rectangular frame 10a fronithe corners of whichdepend 2,7843% Patented Mar. 12, 11.957

rigid members ldb which have secured to their lower ends front and rear horizontal members We and 10d respectively. While various forms of material might be used, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, members 10a and front members fttib are shown as made of angle iron. A board or plate we is secured to the front of said frame, the same being fiush with the bottom of plates 11% at its lower end and extending a short distance above the top members ltia. A support. ltlf is provided for a plurality of compression springs liig, which support might take various forms, such as the plate shown. A suitable cover 10h extends over the springs leg thus form'- ing a cushion, the same extending downnover the front of member me. While cover Iilh can be variously made; in the embodiment of the inventionillustrated, it is shown as having spaced layers of suitable fabric with cushioning material therebetween. The cushioning material tapers downwardly at the front and sides and only the fabric layers are used adjacent the bottom of the cover. Boards or plates 101 are provided at the sides of said frame and said cover extends downwardly at the sides to the bottom of members 101'. The cover is divided near its bottom and a cord or bead 101' is shown extending around the front and sides of section It) and partially around the rear thereof. Cover Iidh at its rear side is securedto the rear side of a bar ltlk extending transversely of the frame and on top of members 10a. Cover 1012 can be secured in any suitable manner, asby tacks of nails. The plates 10: extend rearwardly beyond the vertical members Itlb and the same are provided with horizontal surfaces 10m from which extend downwardly vertical surfaces llln, which in turn extend to horizontal surfaces lilo. A board or plate 19p extends between plates ltii, the same inclining downwardly and forwardly and being covered at its rear side with a layer of fabric ltiq. One or more pins 10)" which extend vertically from the top of boarder plate 10p are disposed in recesses 22 and are preferably yieldingly or resiliently supported. Said recesses 22 have compression coiled springs 26 therein engaged at their tops by said pins 10). Each pin 1dr has a small pin 27 pro jecting into a recess 2'7 extending transversely into each of said pins. Said pins 27 engage the top of recess 22 so as to limit the outward movement of pins 1%)). Pins ltlr move into recesses 22 in bores 22c. Alayer of strong fabric ltts is secured to the rear side of board 10p at its lower end and is secured to the rear side of bar 10k at its upper end. A bar 11 shown as an angle bar extends transversely of the frame 12a of a section 12 of the device and isarran e-d to engage the fabric 10s. Section 10 has a pair of legs 1th at its front end and a similar pair" of legs 10! at its rear portion. The pairs of legs 10! are of course spaced laterally. Said legs ltlt are secured to members and 10d respectively as by bolts Hit and are respectively positioned between said members and said'sides 101'. The rear legs 10! are additionally secured to the rear supporting members ltlb. Frame 10a has a lug 10a which is pivoted to frame 12a of section 12 by pivot 17.

The frame 12a of the central section 12 is of rectangular form. Bars 121) are disposed at the ends thereof and a cushioned cover similar to cover ltih is secured at its edges to the bars 1%. A plurality of coiled com pression springs 12d are disposed beneath cover 12c and section 22 is provided, the same having a rectangular frame 22a shown as made of angle bars. A bar 22b extends along and is secured to the inner end of frame 22a to which is secured the inner edge portion of a cushioned cover 220! similar to cover 10h. Plates or boards 22c extend along frame 22a at the sides thereof and the side portions of cover 22d are secured to the outer sides thereof. Said boards 220 have projecting portions 22c1 having sides at right angles, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. Boards 220 have edge portions and surfaces 22h extending at right angles to the outer sides of projections 2201' and edge portions and surfaces 22h extend at obtuse angles to portions 22i across the ends of said boards and form the outer ends thereof. The end portions of boards 22c are provided with recesses 22 which receive pins 101'. A multiplicity of compression coiled springs 22.2 are disposed between cover 22d and a plate supported on frame 2211. A pair of legs 23 are provided and while these may be variously made, they are illustrated as made of angle bars. These legs are respectively pivoted adjacent the free end of frame 22 by pivots 24. A short bar 25 extends inwardly from the end of each leg 23 to which is pivotally secured by a pivot 28 a link 29 which is pivoted at its other end to bar 14 adjacent the upper end thereof by a pivot 30. There will be two of the bars or links 29, one at each side of frame 22a. Frame 22a is pivotally connected to one of the lugs 14a of bar 14 by a pivot 32. A link 34, similar to link 18, is pivoted at one end to pin 16 and at its other end is pivoted by a pivot 35 to frame 22a.

In operation, when the device is in position forming a chair, as shown in Fig. 1,

sections

22 and 12 are folded together, as shown, so that their frame portions are in contact. At this time the projections 2201 are disposed in the angle formed by surface ltim and the rear end of section 10. Theedges and surfaces 2271 of boards 22c engage the vertical surfaces ltin on the boards 14): of section 10. The end portions 221 of boards 22c engage the horizontal surfaces 100 of boards 1th of section 10. When the end portion 221' of section 22 swings to the position shown in Fig. l, the pins ltlr are depressed and when said section comes into place, said pins move upwardly into the recesses 22 Section 22 is then firmly locked in the position shown in Fig. 1. When the sections 12 and 122 are folded together, the links 18 and 34 swing about their pivots and approach each other, as shown in Fig. 3, and pivot member 16 moves toward the free end of member 14. The leg 23 swings inwardly about pivot 24 so that it folds into the frame 22a. All of the parts are thus nicely folded within

sections

12 and 22.

When the device is to be opened to form a bed, section 22 is swung outwardly from the position shown in Fig.1 about pivot 32 and

section

22 and 12 are then brought into substantial horizontal alignment, as shown in Figs. and 6. Section 12 swings down to horizontal position about its pivots 17. The

members

14 and 23 are brought to vertical position and the sections are sup ported on these members and the legs 1dr. Link 29 tends to hold members 1.4 in vertical position. The device now forms a very comfortable bed. The provision of the projection 2201 which fits as above described and the catch or latch 1dr makes it possible to push the chair about by pressing on the back at the top portion, as shown in Fig. 1, without swinging section 12 to move the parts out of the position shown in Fig. l. The chair canthus be moved forwardly or backw-ardly by taking hold of the top of the back portion without displacing the sections. The strip s is provided to form resistance when section 12 is swung down to horizontal position. The member 11 moving along said strip causes considerable frictional resistance and prevents section 12 from dropping.

In Fig. 4 substantially the same structure is shown as already described, sections 10', 12' and 22' being identical 4 with

sections

10, 12 and 22 already described, with the exception that instead of the pins 10r a depressible plate spring catch 36 is shown projecting above surface 10a. Catch 36 has portions disposed at an acute angle. The

end of section 22' carries a catch or latch member 37 having parts disposed at an acute angle. Catch 37 will be rigid with section 22'. When section 22 swings to the position shown in Fig. 1, lower portion of latch member 37 will cam against and rest in lat-ch member 36 and will come to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. Section 22 will thus be held firmly in position and the chair can be pushed or pulled about by the back member without displacing the sections.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided a comparatively simple and very eflicient device which can form either a chair or a bed. The device is easily converted from one to the other and is very securely held in either of said positions. The device has been amply demonstrated in actual practice, found to be very successful and eificient and is being commercially made.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which, generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A convertible chair having in combination, a front section having a leg-supporting frame and being unobstructed at its sides, a cushion supported on said frame, a second section pivoted to the rear side of said frame and comprising a second frame with a second cushion thereon and swingable upwardly to a position to form the back of said chair and downwardly to bring said cushions into substantially horizontal alignment, a third section pivoted to said second frame at the side thereof opposite said first mentioned section and comprising a third frame with a third cushion thereon, said third sec tion being swingable to a position in the rear of said second section to form a portion of the back of said chair and being swingable to a horizontal position with said third cushion in substantially horizontal alignment with said first mentioned and second cushions, legs pivoted to the free end of said third frame for supporting the. same when in horizontal position, a bar at each side of said third frame pivoted to said second and third frames at their adjacent ends, links pivoted to said bars respectively and pivoted to said legs adjacent the free end of said third frame, said bars each having a longitudinal slot. therein, a pin movable in said slot, links pivoted to said pin at one end and respectively pivoted to said second and third frames, said bars forming legs when said sections are in substantially horizontal alignment, said links and said leg members being foldable between said second and third sections when said sections are in position forming the back of said chair, a projection at the rear of said first section and means in said projection for holding said third section in locked position on said projection.

2. A convertible chair having in combination, a front section having a leg-supported frame, a cushion supported on said frame, a second section pivoted to the rear side of said frame and comprising a second frame with a second cushion thereon and swingable upwardly to a position to form the back of said chair and downwardly to bring said cushions into substantially horizontal alignment, at third section pivoted to said second frame at the side thereof opposite said first mentioned section and comprising a third frame with a third cushion thereon, said third section being swingable to a position in the rear of said second section to form a portion of the back of said chair and being swingable to a horizontal position with said third cushion in substantially horizontal align-j mentwith said first mentioned and second cushions, said;

first mentioned section having members at the sides thereof having rearwardly extending projections, each having 'a ledge thereon with a vertical surface at its inner side, said third section having second members at its sides each with projections thereon having surfaces engageable with said ledges and vertical surface-s respectively for supporting the free end of said third section when said chair is in folded chair-forming position one of said surfaces of said second members forming the outer end surface of said third section and cooperative locking means respectively on said ledges and a pair of said engageable surfaces for freely detachably holding said second and third sections in locked position when in said last mentioned position said end surface of said third section resting on the lowermost of said ledges.

3. A convertible chair having in combination, a front section having a leg supported frame, a cushion supported on said frame, a second section pivoted to the rear side of said frame and comprising a second frame with a second cushion thereon and swingable upwardly to a position to form the back of said chair and downwardly to bring said cushions into substantially horizontal alignment, a third sect-ion pivoted to said second frame at the side thereof opposite said first mentioned section and comprising a third frame with a third cushion thereon, said third section being swingable to a position in the rear of said second section to form a portion of the back of said chair and being swingable to a horizontal position with said third cushion in substantially horizontal alignment with said first mentioned and second cushions, said first mentioned section having memebrs at to sides thereof having downwardly stepped formations at their rear ends respectively comprising horizontal and vertical surfaces, said third section having second members at its sides each having end portions with stepped formations at the free ends thereof comprising vertical and horizontal surfaces and the outermost of said surfaces forming an end portion of said third section, said last mentioned surfaces being adapted respectively to engage said first mentioned surfaces with said end portion of said third section resting on the lowermost horizontal surface of said first section when said second and third sections are in positions forming the back of said chair and cooperating means respectively on an engaging pair of said surfaces for freely detachably holding said second and third sections locked in said last mentioned position.

4. A convertible chair having in combination, a front section having a first rigid frame, a cushion carried by said frame, a second section having a second frame swingingly connected to the rear of said first frame, a third section having a third frame swingingly connected to the rear of said second frame, said sections being adapted to be moved to position in substantially horizontal alinement to form a couch, and said second and third sections being swingable upwardly to form the back of said chair, said front section having a strip of flexible material secured thereto extending downwardly adjacent its rear end and said second frame having a bar extending transversely and adapted to engage said strip to prevent dropping of said second section.

5. A convertible chair having in combination, a front section comprising a first frame being unobstructed at its sides, a cushion supported on said frame, a second section comprising a second frame swingingly connected to the rear of said first frame, a second cushion on said second frame, said second section being swingable upwardly to a position to form the back of said chair, a third section comprising a third frame swingingly connected to the rear of said second frame, a cushion carried by said third section, legs adjacent the rear of said third section, a leg at each side of said chair adjacent the adjacent ends of said second and third sections, a pair of links at each side of said chair connected at one of their ends to said second and third sections respectively, a member connecting the other ends of said links, said last mentioned leg having a slot extending longitudinally thereof in which said member is movable, a projection at the rear of said first section for supporting said third section when placed in vertical position and means on said projection for holding said third section in locked position thereon.

6. A convertible chair having in combination, a stationary section provided with spaced supporting legs and having unobstructed sides, a second swingable section having one end pivoted to the rear of said first section, a third section pivoted to the free end of said second section, said second and third sections being swingable into substantially horizontal positions substantially aligned with said first section, and said second and third sections being foldable together and disposed adjacent the vertical to form the back of the chair, a surface at the free end of said third section and a mating surface at the rear end of said first section having freely disengageable abutting latch members, said latch members respectively comprising angle members having engaging surfaces forming acute angles, said engaging surfaces inclining downwardly and inwardly when in engaged position whereby when said second and third sections are in position forming the chair back said latch members hold the second and third sections upright in locked position, and legs carried by said second and third sections for supporting said second and third sections when in substantially horizontal position.

7. A convertible chair having in combination, a front section having a first rigid frame, a cushion carried by said frame, a second section having a second frame swingably connected to the rear of said first frame, a third section having a third frame swingably connected to the rear of said second frame, said sections being adapted to be moved to position in substantially horizontal alinement to form a couch, and said second and third sections being swingable upwardly to form the back of said chair, said from section having flexible means at its rear end portion adapted to be engaged by an adjacent portion of said second section to provide support for said portion of said second section when said second section is moved to horizontal position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 685,017 Umstead Oct. 22, 1901 746,446 Bown Dec. 8, 1903 1,083,424 Anderson Jan. 6, 1914 1,395,153 Schomacker Oct. 25, 1921 2,257,753 Martin Oct. 7, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS 198,302 Canada Mar. 16, 1920 441,106 Great Britain Ian. 13, 1936 839,548 Germany Sept. 8, 1952