US2803018A

US2803018A - Sofa bed construction

Info

Publication number: US2803018A
Application number: US409563A
Authority: US
Inventors: Piliero James
Original assignee: Englander Co Inc
Current assignee: Englander Co Inc
Priority date: 1954-02-11
Filing date: 1954-02-11
Publication date: 1957-08-20
Anticipated expiration: 1974-08-20

Description

J. PILIERO SOFA BED CONSTRUCTION Aug. 20, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 11, 1954 Aug.2o,19s1 J. HERO 2,803,018

' SOFA BED CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 11. 1954 1 4 'sheets-sheet 2 in U v N IN1/13mm {l/41E; ,QL/ego Aug. 20, 1957 J. PILIERO 2,803,018

soFA BED CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb 11. 1954 4 sheets-sheet s IN VEN TOR.

Aug. 20, 1957 J. PILIERO 2,803,018

K SOFA BED CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. l1,- 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1N VEN TOR. dfi/IE5 1914/5490 BY A fwd@ fra/@ver United States Patent O SOFA BED CONSTRUCTION James Piliero, Chicago, Ill., assignor to The Englander I.

Company, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Dela= ware Application February 11, 1954, Serial No. 409,563

Claims. (Cl. 5--13) This invention relates to furniture of the type which is useful both as a couch or seat, and as a bed.

An object of the inventiony is to provide an article i Another object of the invention is to provide meansl adapted to engage the sectional structure and move one of the sections thereof downwardly into fully collapsed relation within the furniture frame and to retain the same against independent upward movement.

Still another object of the invention is to provide retaining tensi-oned means carried by the furniture frame which has downward movement with the collapsing or the sectional structure to move the outer section thereof downwardly against the folded end portion of the mattress located within the -folded sectional structure and to retain the outer section against independent upward movement.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an article of furniture of -said character in which the furniture frame is supported by the sectional structure whereby the weight on the sectional structure is transmitted to the oor or supporting surface.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a sectional structure of the character described having leg members for supporting the same when in extended relation and which leg members and the sections are connected together by an improved linkage system for effecting swinging of the sections together with the leg members into folded relation within the article of furni ture.

. With the foregoing and other objects in View, reference is now made to the following specification and accompany ing drawings in which the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of an article of furniture constructed in accordance with the invention with the sectional structure shown in extended relation and the furniture frame in vertical section.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof. v

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side view of the outer Vsection of the sectional structure in partially foldedrelation.

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing two of the outer sections in folded relation.

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the sectional structure in partially collapsedrelation within the furniture frame and in position for engagement by the retaining means.

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 5 in which the outer section of the sectional structure is shown in its downward Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view .taken approximately on line 8--8 of Fig. l.

Patented Aug. 20, 1957 ice 2 The article of furniture includes a furniture frame A, la. sectional structure B constituting a seat and bed forming frame, and a retaining means indicated generally by the reference character C for retaining the sectional structure B in folded seat forming relation within the furniture frame A.

The furniture frame A consists of

opposite side walls

10 and 11, a rear wall 12,' a rigid front panel 13 connected between the

side walls

10 and 11 and a movable front wall 14 carried by the sectional structure B and which is moved with the sectional structure to a lposition above the front panel 1,3 when the sectional structure is in collapsed relation within the furniture frame as indicated in Fig. 6 of the drawings. '4 l vThe sectional structure B consists of a plurality of hingedly'connected sections and as illustrated, the same includes an inner section 15, an outer section 16 and two

intermediate sections

17 and 18. The inner section 15 and intermediate section 18 are disposed in spaced upright relation within the furniture frame when the sectional structure ishin collapsed relation therein while the outer section 16 and the intermediate section 17 are disposed in spaced substantially horizontal relation for receiving one or more seat cushions on the outer section 16 when the sectional structure is'in said collapsed relation within the furniture frame. The outer section 16 is relatively shorter than the intermediate section 17, while the intermediate section 18 is relatively shorter than the inner section 15 and disposes the outer section 16 and intermediate section 17 in spaced apart relation for receiving a mattress D in foldedrelation therebetween. l

The inner section 15 includes oppositely disposed angle iron side rails 20 and 2 1 which are connected at their inner ends by a cross member 22 and' intermediate their ends by across memberA 23. The intermediate section 17 includes oppositely disposed angle

niron side rails

24 and 25 which are pivotally connected to the side rails 20and 21 of the inner Vsection by pivot pins 26 extending through the vertical flanges thereof. The intermediate section 18 includes oppositely disposed angle iron side rails 27 and y28 which are pivotally connected to the

side rails

24 and 25 on pivot pins 29 extending through the vertical flanges thereof. The outer section 16 includes oppositely disposed angle

iron side rails

30 and 31 which are connected at their outer ends by a cross member 32 and are pivotally connected to the

side rails

27 and 28 of the intermediate section 18 by pivot pins 33.

The sectional structure B is supported in extended relation by pairs of

legs

35 and 36 which'are pivotally connected to the side rails of the outer section 16 and intermediate section v17 on pivot pins 37 and 38 respectively. In lorder to effect collapsing of the legs 35 with the folding o-f the sections,

links

39 and 40 are provided at each side which are pivoted on

pivot pins

41 and 42 respectively to plates 43 aixed to the upper ends of the legs 35. At their inner ends the links 39 are pivoted to the

side rails

27 and 28 of the intermediate section 18 on pivot pins'44 whileat their inner ends the links 40 are pivoted on pivot pins 45 to triangular shaped side members 46 which latter members are pivoted to the

side rails

30 and 31 on` pivot pins 47.

The front wall 14 is disposed beneath the outer section 16 when the sectional structure B is extended for use as a bed and said front wall is moved with the sectional structure into position between the

opposite side walls

10 and 11 of the furniture frame A when the sectional structure is disposed in collapsed relation within, the'furniture frame for use as a couch or seat. For this purpose, links 50 are pivoted at their upper ends to the links 39 on pivot pins 51 and at their lower ends said links 50 are pivoted on pivot pins 5 2 to brackets l53 aflixed to said front'wall this purpose, the legs are formed with slots 59 in which pins 60 aixed to the lower ends of the links 57 Eare ,mounted for sliding movement. Links 62 -are pivoted at their lower ends to the legs 36 on pivotvpins 63 and at their upper ends are pivotally connected to bent links 64 by pivot pins 65. The links 64 are pivotally-connected u on pivot pins 66 to short straps-67 riveted or otherwise affixed to the

side rails

24 and 25. At their lower ends the .links 64 are pivoted on pivotpins 69 to flat bars70 affixed to the opposite side walls 10 and .llladjacent the bottom of the furniture frame A. ,A cross ,bar 72 is connected f between the links 64 to retain the links against spreading. Links 73 are arranged against the inside faces of the vertical flanges of the

side rails

24 and 25 and are pivoted thereto at their outer ends-on the .pivot pins `-58 and at their inner ends the said linksare provided with headed pins 74 which extend through and have sliding engagement in longitudinally extending slots 75 in the vertical flanges of said side rails.

The sectional structure B is provided with means such as a fabric spring secured to the inwardly directed anges of the side rails thereof and to the cross members 22 and.32 at the ends thereof for supporting the mattress D thereon, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The sectional structure B is connected with the furniture frame A for swinging movement to dispose the inner section 15 in upright relation and the remaining sections `in collapsed relation as hereinbefore described by means of bent links 77 which are securedagainst the inside faces of the vertical flanges of the side rails and 21 and at the upper ends the said links are vpivoted on pivot pins 79 to flat bars 80 which are aflixed to the inside faces Vof the

side walls

10 and 11 of the furniture frame and, at their lower ends to the flat bars 70. V Flat bars 83 are aixed at their upper ends to the fiatbars V80 andvat their lower ends are aixed to the inner ends of the flat bars 70.

The retaining means C includes reciprocatory barsu88 mounted for guided movement in openings 89 in brackets 90 aixed to the iiat bars 80 intermediate the ends thereof.

,At their lower ends the bars S8 are pivoted to levers 91 on pivot pins 92, `the outer ends of the levers y91 being pivoted on pivot pins 93 to the flat bars 70. Coiled springs V95 are affixed at their upper ends to the brackets 90 respectively and at their lower vends are affixed to the levers 91 for maintaining the said levers together with the recipro- -catory bars 8S in uppermost position when the sectional structure B is in bed forming relation as shown in Fig. l of the drawings. Coiled springs 96 are secured at their upper ends to the bent links 77 and at their lower ends to the inner ends of the hat bars 70. The latter springs are tensioned by the downward movement of the sectional structure B into folded relation within the furniture frame A whereby the said springs facilitate the upward swinging of the sectional structure in the movement thereof from the couch or seat position to the bed position.

The

opposite side rails

24 and 25 of the intermediate section 17 are provided with side members 98 which are affixed to the outer faces thereof to project outwardly therefrom so as to engage rollers 99 pivotally mounted on the levers 91 for swinging the levers downwardly against the tension of the springs 95 with the downward move ment of the section structure B from the position shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings to the position shown in, Fig. 6 thereof within the furniture frame A. This moves the bars S8 downwardly so that the inwardly directed upper ends 14MB thereof engage brackets f101 aflixed to the outer end of the outer section 16 which is then moved downwardly with the bars -Suand retained'in downward position within the furniture frame as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. v'The rollers 99 are retained beneath the side members 98 so that the upper ends 14N) of the bars E?, retain the outer section 16 against upward movement and the mattress D in tightly folded relation within the collapsed sectional structure B for supporting cushions on the outer section 16 so that the article yof furniture may be used as a couch or seat.

In folding the sectional structure B from the bed forming position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings to the collapsed position within the furniture `frame A as shown in Fig. 6 for supporting one -or more cushions for use as a couch or seat, the outer section 16 is swung into upright relation on the pivotal connections 33 with the section 18. This disposes the legs 35 in parallel relation with the section 16. The section 1S is then swung upwardly on the pivotal connections 29 into upright relation with reference ,to the section 17. This disposes the Vouter section 1 6 in substantially parallel relation with the section 17 and the front wall.14 in vertical position in -front of the section 18 and the mattress D in doubled-over relation Vbetween the

sections

16 and 17 as illustrated in Fig. i of the drawings. The section 17 is then swung upwardly on the pivotal connections 66 with the links 64. This also effects a swinging of the links 64 about the pivotal connections 69 with the furniture frame so as to dispose the outer sections in the inclined relation shown in Fig. 5. Continued downward movement of the sectional structure effects the engagement of the side members 93 with the rollers 99 so as to move the bars downwardly and the inwardly directed upper ends 160 thereof into engagement `with the brackets 101 of the outer section 16 and to move the outer section 16 into substantially parallel relation with the section 17. The outer section 16 is thus held downwardly against the upward expansive action ofthe folded over Outer end of the mattress D.

The furniture frame'A is rigidly aiiixed at each side to a .supporting frame consisting of the horizontally dis .posedflat bars'7i), the vertical barsi and the diagonally extending bars'S with the bottom of the furniture frame spaced above the supporting surface. Headed supportw ing screws 163 are provided at each side, the threaded Shanks of which engage through threaded openings in the inwardly directed lower ends of angle members 105. rThe Aangle members are riveted or otherwise aixed to the flat bars 7i) and are located adjacent the opposite cnds'thereof on each side of the furniture frame. This provides 4means by which the weight on the sectional structure B when serving as a couch or seat will be imposed upon the llat bars7A and thence to the supporting screws 103. The supporting screws .103 may be turned in 'the threaded openings in the angle members 105 for adjusting'the elevation of the sectional structure B with reference to the supporting surface. The supporting screws 103 are adjustable for taking up any irregularity in the supporting surface whereby thesectional structure B will be supported at four points and may be maintained in Vlevel formation irrespective of any irregularity in the supporting surface.

What is claimed is:

l. In a sofabed construction, a `furniture frame, a sectional structure swingably connected with the furniture'frame and composed of a plurality of sections pivotally connected together in end to end relation for movement from aligned formation to a folded formation within'the furniture frame with two of the sections disposed in spaeed'substantially horizontal relation, means connecting one :of said two sections with the furniture frame for swinging movement from lsaid aligned formation to lowered 'relation vwiththe movement of the sections into folded relation within the furniture frame, retaining meansincluding a lever pivoted to saidurniture frame, means carried .by `said lever providing a head projecting inwardly into-overlying relation with said two sections when in :folded:relationl within the furniture frame, means tensioning said lever to dispose the same in normal inoperative position, and means carried by one of said two sections and movable with the downward movement thereof into engagement with said lever for depressing the lever and moving the head downwardly into engagement with the uppermost of said two sections for retaining said two sections in folded relation.

2. In a soft bed construction, a furniture frame, a sectional structure swingably connected with the furniture frame and composed of a plurality of sections pivotally connected together in end to end relation for movement from aligned formation to a `folded formation within the furniture frame with two of the sections disposed in spaced substantially horizontal relation, means connecting one of said two sections with the furniture frame for swinging movement from said aligned formation to lowered relation with the movement of the sections into folded relation within the furniture frame, reciprocatory means carried by said furniture frame and including a head projecting inwardly into overlying relation with said two sections when the sectional structure is in folded relation within the furniture frame, means tensioning said reciprocatory means to dispose the head in normal inoperative position, and means carried by one of said two sections and movable with the downward movement thereof into engagement with said reciprocatory means for depressing the same and moving the head downwardly to retain said two sections in folded relation.

3. In a sofa bed construction, a furniture frame, a sectional structure adapted for supporting a mattress, said sectional structure being swingably connected with the furniture frame and composed of a plurality of sections pivotally connected together in end to end relation for movement with the mattress from aligned formation to a folded formation within the furniture frame and with the mattress folded within the folded sectional structure and with two of the sections disposed in spaced substantially horizontal relation, means connecting one of said two sections with the furniture frame for swinging movement from said aligned relation to lowered relation with the movement of the sections into folded relation within the furniture frame, retaining means arranged on both sides of the sectional structure and each including a lever pivoted to said furniture frame, a bar carried by each lever having a laterally projecting upper end, means tensioning said levers to dispose the same in normal inoperative position, and means carried by one of said two sections on each side thereof and movable with the folding thereof into engagement with said levers for depressing the levers and moving the bars downwardly and the upper ends thereof into engagement with the uppermost of said two sections for -retaining the same in folded relation against the expansive action of the folded mattress.

4. In a sofa bed construction, a furniture frame, a sectional structure swingably connected with the furniture frame and composed of four sections pivotally connected together in end to end relation for movement from aligned formation to a folded relation in which one of the sections is disposed above another in spaced apart substantially horizontal relation', means connecting one of said last mentioned sections with the furniture frame for swinging movement from said aligned relation to lowered relation Within the furniture frame with the movement of the sections into folded relation, retaining means including a lever pivoted to said furniture frame, means carried by said lver providing a head projecting inwardly into overlying relation with said last mentioned sections when the sectional structure is in folded relation within the furniture frame, means tensioning said lever to dispose the same in normal upper position, and means carried by one of said last mentioned sections and movable with the folding thereof into engagement with said lever for depressing the lever and moving the head downwardly for retaining the uppermost of said two last mentioned sections against upward movement.

5. In a sofa bed construction, a furniture frame, a sectional structure adapted for supporting a mattress, said sectional structure being swingably connected with the furniture frame and composed of four sections pivotally connected together in end to end relation for movement from aligned formation to a folded relation in which one of the sections is disposed above another in spaced substantially horizontal relation and with the mattress folded therebetween, means connecting one of said two last mentioned sections with the furniture frame for swinging movement from said aligned formation to lowered relation within the furniture frame with the movement of the sections into folded relation, retaining means arranged on both sides of the sectional structure and each including a lever pivoted to said furniture frame, bars carried by said levers having laterally projecting heads, means carried by the furniture frame providing guides for said bars respectively, means tensioning said levers to dispose the same in inoperative position, and means carried by one of said two last mentioned sections on each side thereof and movable with the folding thereof into engagement with said levers for depressing fhe levers for moving the bars together with the heads downwardly for depressing the uppermost of said two last mentioned sections and retaining the same against the upward eX- pansion of the folded mattress.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 587,489 Patten Aug. 3, 1897 1,011,440 Karpen Dec. 12, 1911 1,078,909 Fischrupp Nov. 18, 1913 2,353,329 Woller July l1, 1944 2,595,038 Woller Apr. 29, 1952 2,634,428 Fox Apr. 14, 1953 2,642,583 Bank et al. June 23, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 386,433 Great Britain Jan. 19, 1933