US2866982A

US2866982A - Convertible sofa-bed structure

Info

Publication number: US2866982A
Application number: US550125A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr George T Purves
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1955-11-30
Filing date: 1955-11-30
Publication date: 1959-01-06
Anticipated expiration: 1976-01-06

Description

Jan. 6, 1959 G. T. PURVES, JR

CONVERTIBLE SOFA-BED STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 30, 1955 CONVERTIBLE SOFA-BED STRUCTURE George T. Purves, Jr., Indianapolis, Ind.

Application November 30, 1955, Serial No. 550,125

1 Claim. or. 5-45 This invention relates to a convertible sofa-bed structure, and more particularly to a combined sofa-bed of the type that is readily convertible from one position wherein it serves as a sofa to a second position wherein it serves as a bed.

Structures of this character are basically old and no claim is made broadly to them per se. Some have heretofore been characterized by a mattress portion which is movable with some difficultyunder the seat of the sofa when not in use. Others have been characterized by a complicated linkage which makes possible the lowering of what is normally the back rest portion to a bed position. Both types have been relatively complicated, have had an unusually large number of parts and have been expensive. It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a structure of this general character wherein the linkage is so constructed and arranged as to attain ease and simplicity of movement with a minimum number of parts and at a minimum expense.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a convertible sofa-bed which is movable between but two, aligned positions so that it will automatically be located at the desired sofa or bed positions without the necessity of the parts being relatively adjusted one to the other. Relative adjustment and aligning is particularly necessary with that conventional type heretofore used wherein a portion of the mattress is stowed under the seat when not in use.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a structure of this general character which is so properly balanced and of such light weight construction that it may readily and easily be moved from one position to the other by even a child.

States Patent 9 It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a convertible sofa-bed which dispenses with any latches or catches and has no complicated shifting mechanism, as a result of which either the sofa or the bed position can be attained in but a fraction'of a second.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a sofa-bed which is characterized by safety. From time to time convertible beds of conventional character heretofore employed have entrapped youngsters who have endeavored to pull out the section normally stowed underneath the seat portion. With the present invention, by reason of the principle employed in converting the sofa-bed from one position to another, the hazards are completely eliminated.

The full nature of the invention will be understood In the drawings the seat cushion 10 is supported within an angle iron or the like frame of substantially rectangular conformation having end members 11, and side members (not shown) connected thereto.

The frame is suitably secured in parallelism with the floor upon legs 12 by extensions 13. It is to be understood that if a different style or period of structure is desired than modern, the leg portions may be differently formed.

The back rest or cushion 14 is of substantially the same thickness as the seat cushion 10 and is pivotally connected at its ends and near the outer extremities thereof as at 15 to the upper ends of L-shaped links 16 whose lower angular portions are pivoted to the end mem bers 11 as at 17 a substantial distance inwardly from the ends of the said end members. The length of the lower angular portion of the link 16 does not exceed the thickness of the seat cushion 10 when resting upon the end members 11. The length of the link 16 and the the seat cushion 10 and with its forward face in substantially the same horizontal plane therewith. If desired, the end of the shorter arm of the link 16 may be slotted as at 17a to obviate any possibility of binding at the pivot 17.

The end of the bed frame is provided with a combined arm rest and support frame which includes a rectangular element comprising upper and lower

parallel members

30 and 31 connected at their forward ends by stays 32 and at their rear ends by the upstanding supporting leg 20 which projects above the member 30 and engages at its upper extremity with the rear face of the back rest 14-to constitute a support therefor. It will be understood that the upper extremity of the leg 20 will extend the full width of the back rest and will connect at its opposite end with a companion arm rest substantially as just described. The forward end of the arm rest frame is pivoted as at 23 with the end member 11 of the bed frame in the same horizontal plane with the pivot 17 of link 16 and the distance between the members 30-31 of the end frame is substantially equal to twice the thickness of the mattress or seat cushion 10. It will be observed that the link 16 is disposed between the arm rest frame and the bed frame. The upper member 30 of the frame is provided with an arm rest 22 as shown. The pivot 23 of the arm rest frame is located inwardly from the forward edge of the bed frame 11, and a stop 24 near the rear end of the bed frame 11 constitutes a support for the arm rest frame when the device is adjusted as a settee.

The back rest 14 is provided with a rearwardly extending bracket 18 at each end and disposed upwardly from the lower end of the back rest and is pivoted at its outer end as at 19 to the upstanding leg 20 of the arm rest frame adjacent to its juncture with the top rail or support 30 of the end frame. The bracket 18 maintains the back rest 14 in inclined upright position so as to provide a desired inclination for the back rest when the device is used as a settee, and the upper end of the leg 20 supports the back rest in its upwardly and rearwardly inclined position as shown in Fig. 1.

The

pivots

15 and 17 of the links 16 and the

pivots

23 and 19 are so arranged with respect to one another that when the end frames are swung upwardly and forwardly upon the pivots 23 from their position shown in Fig. 1, the pivots 15 will move in an are from the pivot 17, while the pivots 19 will move in an are from the pivot 23 of the arm rest frame. This forward swinging movement will cause the back rest 14 to become inverted when the limit of forward movement is reached as shown in Fig. 4 with the back rest disposed in the same horizontal plane with the upper face of the mattress or cuslr ion 10 and in abutment with the forward end thereof. Forward limiting swinging movement is arrested by a stop 25 secured to the bed frame near its forward edge to be engaged by the link 16. In the meantime, the end frame has also been inverted because of its swinging action upon the pivot 23, and when the limit of the forward movement is reached the outer end of the leg 20 engages the floor and constitutes a support for the back rest when in fully extended position. The distance between the elements 3031 of the arm rest frame is such that little, if any, of the frame projects above the surface of the back rest 14 thus obviating the possibility of any projecting portions to interfere with the comfort of the user of the device when it is extended to bed formation.

From the construction and arrangement of the' arm rest frames and the links and the manner in which they are pivoted with respect to one another, it is apparent that the device affords a comfortable settee with. its back firmly supported at an angle most comfortable for its occupant and with an arm rest disposed at the proper height for the user. In converting the device from a settee to an extended bed, it is simply necessary to pull forwardly and upwardly upon either the back 14 or the legs 20, whereupon the arm rest frame swings upon its pivot 23 substantially 180 degrees so that the legs 20 will rest upon the floor and thus act as a support for the back rest 14 which has been moved into inverted and linear relationship with the mattress or cushion 10 supported by the bed frame. When in extended position for use as a bed, there are no projections or protuberances from the links or end frames which would interfere with the comfort of those occupying the structure as a bed.

The invention claimed is:

In a convertible sofa bed structure, an elevated horizontally disposed first frame, a seat cushion supported on said frame, an arm rest frame of a length less than the width of said first frame and seat cushion pivoted at its lower forward end to said first frame inwardly from one end thereof and swingable in a plane parallel therewith, said arm rest frame being of a height greater than the height of said seat cushion, a substantially L-shaped link having its lower branch pivoted to said first frame inwardly of the ends of said arm rest frame in the same horizontal plane with said arm rest pivoted and disposed between said arm rest frame and said first frame, a back rest supported in upstanding position on said seat cushion, the upper branch of said link being of a length to have its upper end project beyond the forward end of said first frame when pivotally moved to substantially horizontal position to insure a proper meeting of the adjacent edges of the seat cushion and back rest, a pivot on the free end of the upper branch of said link connecting the said link with said back rest inwardly from the upper end of said back rest a distance equal to the projection of said link beyond said first frame When in horizontal position, a bracket projecting rearwardly from said back rest near the lower end thereof, a leg projecting upwardly from the rear end of said arm rest frame and serving as a support for the back rest to maintain the back rest at an angle with respect to the surface of the seat cushion comfortable to the user of the seat cushion, a pivot connecting the rear end of said bracket with said leg; said leg being of a length substantially equal to the elevation of said seat cushion and when resting on the floor to act as a support for the back rest in alignment with the seat cushion with little if any of the first frame projecting above the surface of the back rest, and stop means secured to the first frame near its forward edge to support said second frame when swung in horizontal alignment with the first frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 794,345 Coopersmith July 11, 1905 823,879 Kindel et al.- June 19, 1906 826,994 Conway July 24, 1906 1,043,552 Derz'ee Apr. 5, 1912 2,104,666 Molnar Jan. 4, 1938 2,731,650 Gopert Ian. 24, 1956