US2957185A

US2957185A - Mobile auxiliary furniture

Info

Publication number: US2957185A
Application number: US788169A
Authority: US
Inventors: Michael T Barrett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-01-21
Filing date: 1959-01-21
Publication date: 1960-10-25
Anticipated expiration: 1977-10-25

Description

Oct. 25, 1960 Filed Jan. 21, 1959 M. T. BARRETT MOBILE AUXILIARY FURNITURE s Sheet-Sheet 1 I6 IS A Fig. I. Q l5 IS A\ la 22 gm l6; l5 l5 INVENTOR.

MICHAEL T. BARRETT L m rm; .2

ATTORNEY Oct. 25, 1960 M. T. BARRETT MOBILE AUXILIARY FURNITURE Filed Jan. 21, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 25 MICHAEL I BARRETT Oct. 25, 1960 BARRETT 2,957,185

MOBILE AUXILIARY FURNITURE Filed Jan. 21, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. M/CHAEL Z BARRETT BY W B- V a/M ATTORNEY Uniteci States Patent MOBILE AUXILIARY FURNITURE Michael T. Barrett, Box 58, Estes Park, Colo.

Filed Jan. 21, 1959, Ser. No. 788,169

7 Claims. (Cl. -59) This invention relates to furniture and more particularly to mobile auxiliary furniture adaptable for use in conjunction with an associated article of furniture, such as a studio couch, bed or the like.

Articles of furniture which may be used alone or employed in combination with other articles of furniture may serve various different functions. For example, beds are commonly convertible into davenports and vice versa, while associated structures for use therewith may provide a cabinet or shelf for placement of various articles. It is also customary to provide, in a headboard for disposition at one end of a bed, shelves or a cabinet structure. However, the presently known auxiliary furniture is either stationary in relation to the bed or forms a part of a bed; thus, it is not movable relative to the bed and especially is not movable across the top surface of the bed into different functional positions, in particular positions extending the length of the bed.

Among the objects of the present invention are to provide auxiliary furniture for convertible use either alone or in combination with a bed and the like without altera tion of the physical arrangement of the parts forming the furniture; to provide auxiliary furniture useful in combination with a bed and the like and so constructed and arranged as to be displaceable into various relations to the bed and the like and particularly for conversion to a number of difierent functional uses; to provide mobile auxiliary furniture adapted for placement either longitudinally or transversely in relation to a bed and the like, and in either relation adapted to be movable relative to the bed in such a way as to provide either a bolster or back rest for the bed, and also provide a shelf, or further displaceable to provide a table, desk or the like without the necessity of adjusting or manipulating the parts constituting the auxiliary furniture itself, other than to move it into a desired position; to provide such auxiliary furniture which is particularly useful in converting a bed into a studio couch or the like and vice versa; and to provide such auxiliary furniture which is readily constructed and effective in use.

The above and additional objects, as well as the novel features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a front elevation of a preferred form of auxiliary furniture constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the auxiliary furniture of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section, on a reduced scale, taken along line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a typical use of the auxiliary furniture of the present invention, used with a bed to provide a sofa or davenport in a furniture assembly;

Fig. 5 is a perspective View illustrating the furniture assembly of Fig. 4, with the auxiliary furniture providing a desk or shelf for the bed;

Fig. 6 is another perspective view illustrating the furniice ture assembly of Fig. 4, with the auxiliary furniture providing a table and the bed providing a seat for the persons using the table; and

Fig. 7 is an additional perspective view, illustrating a further use of the furniture assembly of Fig. 4, with the auxiliary furniture providing a bolster for the bed.

Referring to the drawings and particularly the illustrative example in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, a preferred embodiment of a piece of auxiliary furniture A, constructed in accordance with the present invention, may include spaced, vertical end supports, as in the form of

panels

10 and 11, an elongated rearwardly inclined partition in the form of a panel 12 connected at each end to the

respective end panels

10 and 11, and a horizontal partition preferably in the form of a panel 14 coextensive in length with the inclined panel 12, the panel 14 being connected at its ends to the

respective end panels

10 and 11 and in addition being connected along its forward edge to the inclined panel 12. Casters 15 or other suitable means for movement of the auxiliary furniture A may be provided, if desired, and as shown, may be mounted on i identically proportioned, so as to support the inclined and

horizontal panels

12 and 14 at a desired height above the floor and also to provide the most pleasing appearance and decorative effect. In construction, the panels I are formed of a suitable material to provide rigid frame v 22 and 23.

members, such as wood, plywood, or metal if desired and may be provided with strips along or around the edges to add strength, such as strips 17 around the edges of

end panels

10 and 11, as in Figs. 4 and 5, or other decorative strips, such as strips 18. The upper forward edges 19 of the

end panels

10 and 11, as also shown in Figs. 4 and 5, are conveniently inclined upwardly and rearwardly to extend generally parallel to the inclined panel 12. In order to establish optimum flexibility in use, both the inclined and

horizontal panels

12 and 14, respectively, are of a length somewhat greater than the length of a conventional bed and are supported by the

end panels

10 and 11 at a height so as to permit disposition just over a mattress on the bed, and preferably with the lower edge of the inclined panel 12 adjacent the mattress so that a portion of the bed may be slid rearwardly under the panels. The inclined but generally upright panel 12 provides a combination back rest and bolster and to this end has a depth and inclination to provide a comfortable back support, with a resilient pad or cushion 20 secured to the front surface. Panel 12 is secured at each end to the inside of the

end panels

10 and 11, as by means of corner brackets 22 and attaching screws or the like rearwardly of the upper inclined edges 19 of the panels, so that pad 20 is flanked at each side by the end panels, as shown more clearly in Figs. 4 to 7, inclusive. Each of the corner brackets 22 is preferably divided to permit extension of the front edge of the horizontal panel 14 into direct contact with the rear surface of the inclined panel 12 at a height to serve as a table or shelf. The panel 14 is also permanently connected at its ends to the inside of the

end panels

10 and 11 by suitable means, such as brackets 23 and also may be similarly or suitably connected along its front edge to the inclined panel 12, as by screws extending through panel' 12 into panel 14, so that the cross panels form mutually supporting members. In addition, as will be evident, any of various bracing means may be utilized to connect the various panels together, such as tongue and groove connections or attachment ledges in lieu of the bracketsor sofa.

invention with a bed B, conveniently a bed of the Hollywood. typeand including an upper mattressportion 24 andi.,a..lo'w.er.baseportionZS, which may be provided with springs in a conventional manner. In these applications, the inclined panel .12 may serve broadly either as a back-rest or bolster for the. bed andat the, same time the horizontal panel 14 may constitute. a shelf, or a desk or table. together so constructed and arranged as to mutually support one another for use in anumber of different positions to perform varied functions without the. necessity of altering the physical arrangement of the parts comprising the auxiliary furniture. More specifically, vin Fig. 4 there'is shown the. auxiliary furniture A used in combination with bed 'B to convert the bed into a couch Preferably, the inclined panel 12 together with the associated pad 20 is positioned at a height inrelation to the bed B such that 'the upper mattress portion 24 of the bed will approximately contact the loweredge of the panel 12, and is of a length such that the end panels and 11 will extend beyond the ends of the bed in order that the auxiliary furnitureand bed may be moved transversely in relation to one another. Thus, the auxiliary furntiure A may be positioned so that the, rear edge of bed B will be beneath the inclined and horizontal panels to occupy a position such thatthe exposed mattress portion will form a seat and the pad a comfortable back-rest. In this position, the horizontal panel, 14 is rearwardly disposed and hidden from view, but forms a convenient shelf or stand for placement of various articles, such as lamps, books or the like.

In Fig. 5, the auxiliary furniture A is shown with the horizontal panel '14 facing one side of the bed and this position may be produced easily and quickly merely by sliding the auxiliary furntiure A forwardly along the width of the bed from the position of Fig. 4 to the position of Fig. 5. In this location, it willbe evident that the horizontal panel 14 may form a writing table or desk, while the bed B forms a seat for the person using the panel 14 as a desk or table. Also, in either of the above positions, the panels mutually cooperate to support one another. Thus, when the inclined panel is in use as a back-rest, as in Fig. 4, the horizontal panel 14 will of course resist much of the force applied against the panel 12-and will prevent the panel 12 from bending unduly, notwithstanding its relatively long length. When the horizontal panel 14 is in use, and with the panels 12 and "14 connected along their lengths, the horizontal panel 14 will not only be supported at the ends, but also supported against bending downwardly throughout its lengthby the inclined panel 12. a

As shown in Fig. 6, the horizontal panel 14 is easily convertible for use as an eating table, wherein the bed B may be used again as a seat and due to the length of the assembly will accommodate a number of people therealong. Of course, theauxilia-ry furniture is also adaptable for separate use as desired, and it will be evident that a chair or chairs may be used in place of the bed.

In Fig.7 is illustrated one relative disposition between the auxiliary furniture A and bed B when it is desired to use the bed for sleeping purposes. In this case,.the inclined panel 12 may serve as a bolster, if desired, while the horizontal panel 14 again will form a convenient hidden shelf behind the bolster. Moreover, theauxiliary furniture A may be readily placed in this position by sliding the same rearwardly from any of the positions shown in Figs. 4-6 until the forward lower edge of'the pad 20 is located just above one side of the mattress portion 24.

Although not shown, it will be apparent from the foregoingthat the auxiliary, furniture A may alsobeturned Moreover, the

panels

12 and 14 are as to serve either as a back-rest for a person lying in bed, or by moving it to a forward position, to serve as an eating table, desk or the like. In addition, cabinets or partitions may be substituted for the horizontal panel 14 so long as they are formed to serve as a sturdy support for the inclined panel 12; and furthermore, the auxiliary furniture may be located in many different ways and positions to perform various functions other than the specific functions describedabove. As will be evident, variations may be made in the disposition and design of parts depending upon the intended use, and, in this connection, it is to be understood that the foregoing particularization is for purposes of illustration only, and that many changes inthe construction and design may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Auxiliary furniture adapted for use in combination with a bed and the like, comprising a pair of upright supports spaced apart a distance greater than the length of the bed; a horizontal panel extending between said upright supports; an upwardly and rearwardly inclined panel disposed forwardly of said horizontal panel and extending between said end supports, said horizontal panel being disposed at an elevation at least as high as the lower edge of said inclined panel, the lower edge of said inclined panel being at a position approximately the height of said bed; means connecting the ends of said horizontal and inclined panels to said end supports; and means interconnecting said horizontal and inclined panels, said horizontal and inclined panels thereby-serving to mutually support one another.

2. Auxiliary furniture as defined in claim 1, wherein the upper front edge of said end supports are inclined upwardly and rearwardly in a direction corresponding to said inclined panel. i

3. Auxiliary furniture as defined in claim 1, wherein said inclined panel is provided with a cushion member extending across the front surface thereof.

4. Auxiliary furniture, comprising a pair of upstanding, movable end supports; an elongated, inclined panel including a pad on its front and having a length to span the length of a bed and the like, said inclined panel being connected at each end to said end supports and inclining upwardly and rearwardly and having an elevation in'relation to the top surface of the bed so as to form either a back rest or a bolster member for saidbed; and an elongated horizontal panel connected at its ends to said end supports and at its forward edge to the rear side of said inclined panel, said horizontal panel being adapted to form either a shelf or table member, said horizontal panel and saidinclinedpanel. being disposed to mutually support one another. a

5. Auxiliary furniture as defined in claim 4; wherein said end supports have upper forward edgesinclining upwardly andrearwardly" adjacent to said inclined, panel, said inclined panel being. connected to said end supports rearwardly of the inclined edges of said. end supports in 1 parallel relation thereto sothat'the portion of said end supports 'forwardlyof said inclined panel define lateral supports for thepadonsaid inclined panel;

6. Auxiliary furniture adapted for main combination witha bed and the like, comprising a' pair'of upright supports spaced apart a distance greater than the length of the bed; a horizontal panel extending between said upright supports; an upwardly and rearwardly .inclined panel disposed'forwardly of said horizontal panel and extending between said end supports, said horizontal panel being disposed at an elevation. intermediate the upper and lower edges of said inclined panel and the lower edge of said inclined panel being at a position approximately the height of said bed; means connecting the ends ofsaid horizontal panel to said end supports,

1 at least a portion of said means also connecting the'ends of said inclined panel to said end supports; and means and moved to extend across the width of thebed, so interconnecting said horizontal panel and sa d. incl ned panel, said horizontal and inclined panels thereby serving to mutually support one another.

7. Auxiliary furniture, comprising a pair of upstanding, movable end supports; an elongated, inclined panel including a pad on its front side and having a length to span the length of a bed and the like, said inclined panel being fixedly connected at least at two spaced points on each end to said end supports and inclining upwardly and rearwardly, the lower edge of said inclined panel having an elevation with respect to the top surface of the bed so that the bed may be moved between said end supports from one side of said auxiliary furniture to the other side; and an elongated horizontal panel connected at its ends to said end supports and at its forward edge to the rear side of said inclined panel, said horizontal panel being adapted to form either a shelf or a table member, said horizontal panel and said inclined panel being disposed to mutually support one another.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 2,265,671 Quadr-i Dec. 9, 1941 2,555,776 Alschnler et al June 5, 1951 2,630,581 Ziegenfuss Mar. 10, 1953 2,694,207 MacEachron Nov. 16, 1954