US3310815A - Convertible sofa-bunk - Google Patents

Description

are}! 1967 M. E. GRIFFIN CQNVERTIBLE SOFA-BUNK 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 6, 1966 m wl MICKEY E. GRIFFIN INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Mamh 1967 M. E. GRIFFIN 331%,815

CONVERTIBLE SOFA-BUNK Filed July 6, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 N MICKEY E. GRIFFIN INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS March 2%, N67 M. E. GRIFFIN CONVERTIBLE SOFA-BUNK Filed July 6, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG 5 MICKEY E. GRIFFIN INVENTOR Q M 8M ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,310,815 CONVERTIBLE SOFA-BUNK Mickey E. Griffin, 16430 NE. 29th, Bellevue, Wash. 98004 Filed July 6, 1966, Ser. No. 563,231 12 Claims. (Cl. 59)

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a convertible sofa and bunk bed, and more particularly to a sofa having the appearance and size of a conventional item of furniture but which is convertible into a bed arrangement for sleeping either two or three people.

Those skilled in the art are aware of the popularity of sofas which can be used during the daytime as decorative furniture and which may be converted at nights into beds. Such convertible sofas are particularly useful where floor space is at a premium such as in house trailers, public accommodations, cottages, cabins, apartments, boats, and smaller homes. An extremely desirable feature of such expandable or convertible sofa beds is that after the sofa has been folded out for sleeping it occupies as little additional floor space as possible. Currently well known convertible structures approximately double floor space requirements when they are converted to beds. Other drawbacks to heretofore known sofa bunks or sofa beds are their high cost of production steming primarily from complex and costly mechanisms, heavy weight, and involved operation. Furthermore, the mechanisms or fixtures upon which convertibility is based are not confinable within the low profile configuration and dimensions of modern sofas. Therefore, the known convertible furniture items present rather ungainly and awkward appearances.

The instant invention overcomes the deficiencies and inherent disadvantages of currently known sofa bunks or beds by incorporation of a uniquely simple fixture which allows the seat of the sofa to expand into an area large enough to sleep two people while at the same time a back portion of the sofa swings upwardly to provide a top bunk sleeping surface for a third person. Each arm of the sofa has a permanent seat and back frame upon which is supported a movable or slidable seat frame. The seat frame slides outwardly to overhang the front of the sofa so that the seat cushions may be placed beside the movable seat frame on the permanent frame structure thereby to provide a double sleeping space. The back cushion of the sofa is attached to a pivotal berth frame swinging upwardly from the rear of the sofa. The berth is supported in a horizontal bunk position by arm means pivotally secured to the lower part of the permanent frame. It will be appreciated that the mechanism or fixture involved enables the parts thereof to fold downwardly into a narrow space between the arms and movable seat and cushions. Thus, the conversion components of the mechanism or fixture are hidden so that the sofa appears attractive to the eye.

Accordingly, it is among the many features of this invention to provide a convertible sofa and bunk type bed mechanism or fixture which is simple in design, rugged in construction, economical to produce, and reliable and simple in operation.

Another feature of this invention is to provide a sofa and bunk type bed converting mechanism or fixture which allows expansion of the sofa into a sleeping arrangement for two or three persons while still confining the operating mechanism to the dimensions and configurations of a modern, low-profile item of furniture.

Still another feature of this invention is to furnish a sofa and bunk type bed conversion mechanism or fixture which allows the sofa to occupy a minimum amount of additional floor space when expanded or folded into a sleeping arrangement.

Yet another feature of this invention is to supply a sofa and bunk type bed conversion mechanism or fixture which allows for sufficient distance between the lower and the upper berths to permit either an adult or a child to sleep comfortable in the lower berth.

Yet another feature of this invention is to provide a sofa and bunk type bed conversion mechanism or fixture which supports the upper bunk rigidly so that it will not wobble or sway and with enough strength so that an adult may sleep confidently in the upper bunk.

A further feature of this invention is to supply a sofa and bunk type bed conversion mechanism or fixture having a minimum number of moving parts and which because of its unique design eliminates swaying of the upper bunk.

These together with other objects, features, and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a. sofa and bunk type bed which incorporates this invention and in which the invention is folded into the sofa position;

FIG. 2 is a cross section view taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1 and showing in greater detail the parts of this invention in the sofa position;

FIG. 3 is the sofa of FIG. 1 folded out so as to present sleeping surfaces for three persons and in which the lower surface has a double sleeping space and the upper bunk or berth has sleeping space for one person;

FIG. 4 is a cross section view along the line 44 of FIG. 3 and showing in detail the elements of the invention in the bed or bunk position;

FIG. 5 is a partial cross section view in elevation taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2 and showing the parts of the invention as they would appear from the front of the so a.

Referring now to the drawings it will be seen that the sofa has arms 12 and 14, a back 16, a permanent seat portion 18, a movable seat frame structure 20, back rest and bunk portion 22, and seat cushions 24. The sofa is also provided with front legs 26 and rear legs 28. The arm structure at each end of the sofa has permanent seat horizontal frame member 30 and connected to the rear end thereof is generally upwardly extending back frame member 32 which angles backwardly from bottom to top. The two arms of the sofa are interconnected by front main longitudinal frame member 34, rear main longitudinal frame member 36, and top main longitudinal frame member 38. The specific configuration of the arms is not essential to an understanding of this invention since sofa frames will have a wide variety of arm structures, configurations, and locations for and arrangement of interconnecting or longitudinal frame members. Since a sofa arm structure will have a generally horizontally disposed frame element, frame member 30 may be employed to support portions of the invention as will now be described.

A slidable seat frame, generally designated by the number 20, is a generally rectangular structure having end members or plates 40 which are generally elongated, flat, rectangular, metallic bar means. The ends of plates 40 are bent inwardly to form anchoring brackets. The outer ends of members 40 have anchoring brackets 42 while the inner ends have anchoring brackets 44. Movable seat structure 20 has back frame members 46 attached to the brackets 44 and an outer longitudinal frame member 48 attached to outer brackets 42. Conventional securing means such as bolts 50 are employed to secure the longitudinals 46 and 48 to the end plates 40. It will be appreciated that front to rear frame members (not shown) may extend between main frame longitudinals 34 and 36 at a series of intermediate locations spaced inwardly from members 30 so that movable seat portion 20 is adequately supported. While it has not been shown there may also be interconnecting frame members between the longitudinals 46 and 48 of movable seat 20 to add rigidity thereto. However, it should be kept in mind that basically the entire interior portion of the rectangular movable seat portion will be furnished with a mattress or padding material such as foam rubber or springs, in order to provide a comfortable sleeping surface. Thus any rigidizing, intermediate frame members for movable seat portion 20 would preferably be disposed generally coplanar with the bottom surface of said movable frame as it rests on the lower permanent frame structure. End plates 40 as can be seen by reference to the drawings are provided with a generally horizontally disposed elongated slot 52 which is located inwardly of the front to rear center line of plate 40. Said slot 52 is positioned off center towards the bottom edge of said end plate 40. It will also be noted that end plate 40 is provided on the outside surface thereof with a guide pin 54 located in spaced relation to bracket 44 thereof and slightly rearwardly of the innermost end of slot 52 near the upper edge.

Fitted to the lower main frame member 30 is an arm support bracket numbered generally as 56. Bracket 56 for the purpose of lending additional support to elements of the conversion fixture is a fiat bracket means preferably of plate or sheet metal or the like. The upper edge of bracket 56 extends outwardly generally horizontally in the form of a short leg 58 to override the upper edge of main frame member 30. Bracket 56 is essentially vertically disposed on the inside surface of said main frame member 30 and is attached thereto as by a bolt or bolts 60. The bracket is somewhat shorter in length than end plate 40 and being attached to main frame member 30 is located below and in spaced relation to the plane of the outer surface of said end plate 40. Thus with specific reference being had to FIG. 5, it will be understood that suflicient distance is allowed between bracket 56 and end plate 40 to permit other elements of the fixture or apparatus to extend upwardly unobstructedly therebetween.

Two elements are pivotally mounted on bracket 56. One is a pivotal seat frame guide bar 62 which is a generally rectangular strap. At the lower end of guide bar 62 is a short mounting leg 64. The main body of guide 62 is spaced from bracket 56 by a spacing or offset leg 66. Mounting leg 64 is pivotally secured to bracket 56 as by bolt 68 or other conventional means. The upper end of guide 62 extends upwardly along the outer surface of end plate 40. At the upper end of guide 62 is affixed a guide pin 70 which extends through slot 52 in plate 40. The dimensions of guide bar 62 and slot 52 in end plate 40 determine or limit the distance which seat portion 20 will move outwardly from its sofa position as shown in FIG. 2 to its bunk or berth position shown in FIG. 4. It can be seen that guide bar 62 is pivotally mounted outwardly of the front-to-rear center line of bracket 56 and that the pivot 68 is located near the lower edge of the said bracket.

Also pivotally supported at the upper, outer corner of bracket 56 is an upper berth support arm generally designated by the number 72. Arm 72 pivots as at point 74 and is an elongated rigid bar member which is preferably curved or angled forwardly approximately 30 degrees at a point about one-third the distance down from its upper end. Arm 72 by virtue of its angle has an upper arm portion 74 and a longer lower arm portion 76 with the upper portion 74 angling forwardly in the manner shown. At a predetermined distance above pivot point 74 on the forward edge of arm 72 is located a notch 80 which receives pin 54 attached to end plate 40 when the movable seat portion 20 is in its berth position as shown in FIG. 4. Also attached to the forward or outer edge of arm 72 is a generally triangular pin guide 82 having a lower guide edge or surface 84 which is generally aligned with the upper edge of notch 80. Said triangular guide also has a rearwardly extending upper edge 86 extending to the arm. Guide edge or surface 84 meets the forward edge of arm 72 preferably at an angle of slightly less than 90 degrees. The arm 72 is preferably curved as shown but could be straight if desired. However, the angled or curved feature has been found to contribute a very desirable stability Which a straight arm does not have. A pin 88 on bracket 56 acts as a stop or rest means for preventing arm 72. from dropping too low.

Top main longitudinal 38 on the sofa has hingedly attached thereto a combination sofa back and upper berth frame means generally designated by the number 22. The upper berth consists of a generally rectangular frame having back frame member 92, forward longitudinal frame member 94 and end frame members 96. Appropriate intermediate framing or spring structure may be incorporated within the confines of the frame means 22. Each of the end frame members 96 is provided with an elongated slot 98 to receive arm pin 100 located at the upper end of arm 72. In addition and at its outer end elongated slot 98 is upwardly formed a short distance to provide a locking notch 102 so that when the combination sofa back and upper berth structure 22 is in the bunk position pin 100 will lodge in notch 102 and hold securely.

It will be appreciated that arm 72, guide bar 62 and stop pin 88 could be mounted directly on frame member 30. However, it has been found more advantageous to use a metal bracket plate 56 for greater strength and reliability. In the event that only a two place sleeping arrangement were desired the swingable sofa back and berth frame 22 could be eliminated. It would then be necessary only to cut off arm 72 above notch 80 so that the hold down feature for seat 20 would still be present. Hence, it will be understood that notch 80 in arm 72 or in a shorter member serves the primary function of lending stability to movable seat portion 20. Cushions 24 when the sofa is used for sleeping are placed on the permanent frame as shown in FIG. 3 next to seat or berth 20.

In order to convert the sofa of FIG. 2 into the three place sleeping bunk arrangement of FIG. 4 it is only necessary that the user reach around one end of movable seat portion 20 and press upwardly on the spring retainer 104, shown in FIG. 2. At the same time seat portion 20 is lifted and pulled forwardly until guide 62 has pivoted and pin 70 thereon has transversed the length of slot 52. The movable seat portion 20 has then become one of two sleeping spaces on the bottom of the sofa. Next, U-shaped cushion holding bar 106 is grasped and the combination sofa back and upper berth 22 is swung upwardly about hinges 108 which are secured to the top main longitudinal 38 and to the back frame member 92. When upper berth 22 has been lifted to the horizontal position, pin 100 on arm 72 will lodge in notch 102 and the upper berth will be in position. As arm 72 is swinging upwardly from its lower position, lower surface or edge 84 of the pin guide 82 on the arm will contact pin 54 on end plate 40. When the arm has reached its fully extended position pin 54 will have engaged edge '84 and lodged in notch 80 of the arm. Thus, the movable seat portion 20 is very firmly held in place both by guide bar 62 and the retainer notch 80 in arm 72.

The foregoing is considered to be illustrative only of the principles of this invention. Numerous modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art and hence it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described. Accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a convertible sofa bed in which said sofa has arm structures interconnected by main longitudinal frame members defining permanent seat and back frame means, said sofa bed including a generally rectangularly shaped movable seat frame adapted to be supported on said permanent seat frame, the improvements at each end of said sofa bed comprising: (a) an end member at the end of said movable seat frame including first movement restriction means thereon and also including on the outside surface thereof a holding pin means, (b) permanent support means located below and spaced outwardly from said end member to define a relatively narrow and unobstructed operating space therebetween, (c) second movement restriction means mounted on said permanent support means coacting with said first movement restriction means to restrict movement of said movable seat frame, ((1) an elongated arm means pivotally mounted on said permanent support means and including a holding notch means in the forward edge thereof at a predetermined distance above its pivot mounting for engaging said holding pin means when said arm is swung to an upwardly extended position, and (e) generally rectangular upper berth frame means hingedly attached to the permanent back frame and having an elongated arm slot in the end members thereof to receive a locking pin means located at the upper end of said arm means.

2. The convertible sofa bed of claim 1 and in which said first movement restriction means is a generally horizontally disposed elongated guide slot.

3. The convertible sofa bed of claim 2 and in which second movement restriction means is a generally rectangular pivoted guide bar means having a guide pin thereon received in said guide slot.

4. The convertible sofa bed of claim 1 and in which said arm means has on the forward edge thereof a generally outwardly extending guide edge for directing said holding pin into said holding notch.

5. In a convertible sofa bed in which said sofa has arm structures interconnected by main longitudinal frame members defining permanent seat and back frame means, said sofa bed including a generally rectangularly shaped movable seat frame adapted to be supported on said permanent seat frame, the improvements at each end of said sofa bed comprising: (a) an end member at the end of said movable seat frame, said end member having a generally horizontally disposed elongated guide slot means therein, said end member also having on the outside surface thereof a holding pin means located in spaced relation to said guide slot, (b) permanent support means located below and spaced outwardly from said end member to define a relatively narrow and unobstructed operating space therebetween, (c) guide bar means pivotally mounted on said permanent support means and having guide pin means thereon received in said guide slot to restrict movement of said movable seat frame, (d) an elongated arm means also pivotally mounted on said permanent support means and including a holding notch means in the forward edge thereof at a predetermined distance above its pivot mounting for engaging said holding pin means when said arm is swung to an upwardly extended position, and (e) generally rectangular upper berth frame means hingedly attached to the permanent back frame and having an elongated arm slot in the end members thereof to receive a locking pin means located at the upper end of said arm means.

6. The convertible sofa bed of claim 5 and in which said guide slot in said end member is located generally rearwardly of the front-to-rear center line thereof.

7. The convertible sofa bed of claim 5 and in which said holding pin means on said end member is located above and rearwardly of said guide slot.

8. The convertible sofa bed of claim 5 and in which said arm slot includes at the outer end thereof a locking notch for holding said locking pin and thereby locking said upper berth frame in its berth position.

9. The convertible sofa bed of claim 5 and in which said arm means has on the forward edge thereof a generally outwardly extending guide edge for directing said holding pin into said holding notch.

19. In a convertible sofa bed in which said sofa has arm structures interconnected by main longitudinal frame members defining permanent seat and back frame means, said sofa bed, including: (a) a generally rectangularly shaped and generally horizontally movable seat frame adapted to be supported on said permanent seat frame and slidable outwardly to a berth position so as partially to overhang said permanent seat frame to thereby define essentially two sleeping places on said permanent seat frame, (b) permanent support means attached to said permanent seat frame below and spaced outwardly from said movable seat frame to define a relatively narrow and unobstructed operating space therebetween, (c) an elongated arm means pivotally mounted on said permanent support means Within said operating space, ((1) gen erally rectangular upper berth frame means hingedly attached to the permanent back frame and having an elongated arm slot in the end members thereof to receive a locking pin means located at the upper end of said arm means, and (e) means for restricting outward movement of and for rigidly securing that portion of said movable seat frame that overlies said permanent frame. i

11. The convertible sofa bed of claim 10 and in which said arm means swings from a down position between said arm structure and said movable seat frame to a generally upright generally horizontal position.

12. In a convertible sofa bed in which said sofa has arm structures interconnected by main longitudinal frame members defining permanent seat and back frame means, said sofa bed including: (a) generally rectangularly shaped generally horizontally movable seat fraine adapted to be supported on said permanent seat frame, so that when said movable seat frame is moved outwardly, area for sleeping two persons is provided, (b) an end member at the end of said movable seat frame, said end member having a generally horizontally disposed elongated slot means therein, said end member also including on the outside surface thereof a holding pin means, ((5) per manent support means attached to said permanent seat frame below and spaced outwardly from said end member to define a relatively narrow and unobstructed operating space therebetween, ((1) guide bar means pivotally mounted on said permanent support means and having guide pin means thereon received in said slot means to restrict movement of said movable seat frame, and (e) a seat frame arm retaining means also pivotally mounted on said permanent support means and including a holding notch means in the forward edge thereof at a predetermined distance above its pivot mounting for engaging said holding pin means when said arm retaining means is swung to an upwardly extended seat frame retaining position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,891,255 6/1959 Simmons 5-12X 3,027,571 4/1962 Bendixen et a1. 5-59 3,092,846 6/1963 Biby 518 3,191,194 6/1965 Gritfin 5-9 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner;

CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Examiner;

position for holding said upper berth frame in a

Claims (1)

1. IN A CONVERTIBLE SOFA BED IN WHICH SAID SOFA HAS ARM STRUCTURES INTERCONNECTED BY MAIN LONGITUDINAL FRAME MEMBERS DEFINING PERMANENT SEAT AND BACK FRAME MEANS, SAID SOFA BED INCLUDING A GENERALLY RECTANGULARLY SHAPED MOVABLE SEAT FRAME ADAPTED TO BE SUPPORTED ON SAID PERMANENT SEAT FRAME, THE IMPROVEMENTS AT EACH END OF SAID SOFA BED COMPRISING: (A) AN END MEMBER AT THE END OF SAID MOVABLE SEAT FRAME INCLUDING FIRST MOVEMENT RESTRICTION MEANS THEREON AND ALSO INCLUDING ON THE OUTSIDE SURFACE THEREOF A HOLDING PIN MEANS, (B) PERMANENT SUPPORT MEANS LOCATED BELOW AND SPACED OUTWARDLY FROM SAID END MEMBER TO DEFINE A RELATIVELY NARROW AND UNOBSTRUCTED OPERATING SPACE THEREBETWEEN, (C) SECOND MOVEMENT RESTRICTION MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID PERMANENT SUPPORT MEANS COACTING WITH SAID FIRST MOVEMENT RESTRICTION MEANS TO RESTRICT MOVEMENT OF SAID MOVABLE SEAT FRAME, (D) AN ELONGATED ARM MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID PERMANENT SUPPORT MEANS AND INCLUDING A HOLDING NOTCH MEANS IN THE FORWARD EDGE THEREOF AT A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE ABOVE ITS PIVOT MOUNTING FOR ENGAGING SAID HOLDING PIN MEANS WHEN SAID ARM IS SWUNG TO AN UPWARDLY EXTENDED POSITION, AND (E) GENERALLY RECTANGULAR UPPER BERTH FRAME MEANS HINGEDLY ATTACHED TO THE PERMANENT BACK FRAME AND HAVING AN ELONGATED ARM SLOT IN THE END MEMBERS THEREOF TO RECEIVE A LOCKING PIN MEANS LOCATED AT THE UPPER END OF SAID ARM MEANS.

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