US3337879A - Combination desk and couch - Google Patents

Description

1957 D. H. HUMPHREY 3,33.7,879

COMBINATION DESK AND COUCH Filed Nov. 30, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 17 Y/n 2 071' (B Daz/id 2?, 1 24772 (JU/72746 y g- 29, 1967 D. H. HUMPHREY COMBINATION DESK AND COUCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nqv. 30, 1964 0%&

fn/norr I %az z 1772 r y United States Patent O 3,337,879 COMBINATION DESK AND COUCH David H. Humphrey, P.O. Box 1742, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico 00919 Filed Nov. 30, 1964, Ser. No. 414,641 6 Claims. (CI. -3)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A U-shaped, open-front, box-like frame has pivoted therein a converson unit serving as a desk in one position and as a couch in an inverted position. Parts of the converson unit engage parts of the frame to serve as stop means in both positions.

This invention relates to a combination desk and couch which is quickly convertible from one to the other in a comparatively simple manner.

One object of the invention is to provide a convertible desk and couch Wherein a stationary frame is provided and a converson unit is pivoted thereto for rotation through substantially 180 from one position with a panel of the converson unit serving as a desk top to a second position wherein the panel serves as a support for a mattress, the pivot axis being so located as to produce a relatively high desk top and a relatively low mattress support in the two respective positions of the converson unit.

Another object is to provide a frame comprising end members and a back member, and a converson unit comprsing a panel and end members, the end members of the panel being pivoted to the end members of the stationary frame and the pivot being vertically spaced from the panel so that in one position the panel is above the pivot and in another position the panel is below the pivot, the first position being substantially table-high and the second position being considerably lower for supporting a mattress thereon at the usual lower-than-table-high elevation with respect to the floor surface.

Still another object is to provide the combination desktop mattress support panel with an upstanding back member and a depending front member to conceal the front edge of the mattress when the panel is in desk-top position. When the converson unit is rotated to couch-forming position the back member serves as a drop member below the front edge of the mattress and the front member serves as a back stop for the mattress.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the Construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my combination desk and couch, whereby the objects above contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set foth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in detail on the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View thereof showing it adjusted to desk-forming position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of my combination desk and couch showing it adjusted to couch-forming position;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 showing the converson unit in desk-forming position;

FIG. 5 is a similar sectional View showing the conversion unit in couch-forming position, and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of FIG. 4 showing a pivot detail;

On the accompanying drawings I have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate end members of a stationary frame which has a back member 12 connecting the end members together and a brace member 14 serving to keep the end members square to the back member. Each end member has a pair of supporting legs 16 secured thereto. From the description of the parts 10, 12 and 14, it will be obvious that the stationary frame is substantially U-shaped in plan view, thereby having an open front.

I provide a converson unit in the form of a horizontal panel 18 serving both as a desk top and as a mattress support as will hereinafter appear, a desk back member 20 and a desk front member 22. When the converson unit is in desk-forming position as shown in FIG. 1, the back member 20 is upstandng and the front member 22 is depending relative to the panel 18 as will be obvious.

The three members 18, 20 and 22 are provided with a pair of end members 24 of rectangular Outline and these are pivoted as by means of pivot pins 26 such as shown in FIG. 6 to the end members 10 of the stationary frame. The pivot connections include rub washers 28 of metal, plastic or the like to space the end members 24 from the end members 10 and thereby prevent undesirable rubbing of their surfaces together during operation of the device for converting it from desk to couch or from couch to desk.

Conversion is accomplished by rotating the converson unit clockwise from the position shown in FIG. 4 so that it then assumes the position shown in FIG. 5. This is the couch-forming position, a mattress 30 being supported on the then upper surface of the panel 18. Conversely to Convert from couch to desk, the converson unit in FIG. 5 is rotated counterclockwise 180. A suitable latching arrangement may be provided for holding the converson unit in either of the positions illustrated but since latches are more or less conventional they have not been illustrated on the drawings.

In the desk-forming position of FIG. 4, it will be noted the mattress 30 depends from the panel 18 and is concealed by the desk front member 22. The end members 24 and the back member 20 serve as guards against papers or the like on the desk being pushed off onto the floor.

In the couch-forming position of FIG. 5 the mattress 30 is supported on top of the panel 18 and the upstanding back member 20 of FIG. 4 now becomes a depending front member for the couch to give a finished appearance below the front edge of the mattress. The depending front member 22 of the desk in FIG. 4 becomes an upstanding wall in FIG. 5 to support the mattress 30 against undesirable dsplacement when occupied. Both members 20 and 22 at this time reinforce opposite edges of the panel 18 against sagging under the weight of a person on the couch.

In FIG. 4 it will be noted the panel 18 is of such elevation that it is suitable as a desk or table top. In FIG. 5, it Will be noted, the panel 18 is considerably lower than in FIG. 4 and thus supports the mattress 30 at a suitable bed-high position. This particular change in the elevation of the panel 18 is accomplished by locating the pivot pins 26 as illustrated (below the mattress 30 in FIG. 4 and above it in FIG. 5) or vertically spaced from the panel in the proper direction so that a low couch and a table-high desk are provided by the mere pivoting of the converson unit 18, 20, 22, 24 and 30 through 180 of rotation. The relative heights are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in respect to the room appointments illustrated.

In addition to locating the pivot axis with reference to the higher and lower requirements between the desk and couch usage, I have also found it of value to locate the pivot slightly in front of the dimensional center of the surface 18 (when this surface is in desk position) thereby achieving the following results:

A. When the top 18 is in the desk position, the lower rear corners of the end members 24 rest on cross member 12 as shown at 32 in FIG. 4, thereby providing a definite stopping point and actually serving as a support which is helped by the fact that more of the weight of the con- I its off-center location).

B. When the conversion unit is in the conch position it rests firmly against the cross member 12 as at 34 in FIG. 5-'-thereby preventing it from rotating 'further than the horizontal conch position-and since the greater portion of weight is now in front of the pivot point the conch tends to remain in this position. People sitting on the conch generally add the majority of their weight in front of the pivot position and thereby tend even more to hold the conch in this position.

It will be ,noted both the stationary frame and the conversion unit are simple in Construction and have but few parts, yet due to the peculiar pivotng arrangement disclosed the device is readily convertible to either a desk or a conch in a few seconds time. I thns provide a doublepurpose articleof furniture that can be used for either purpose without having to provide space for two separate articles of furniture. In addition to the brace member 14, the pivot connections 26 permit the conversion unit to brace the stationary frame against undesirable distortion.

While I have made reference to desk and couch, these terms are merely illustrative as the device disclosed may be used as a table-conch, "table-bed, desk-bed" or the like, possibly with minor design changes.

Some changes may be made in the Construction and arrangement of the parts of my combination desk and conch without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may reasonably be included within their scope.

I claim as my invention: t

1. In a combined desk and conch, an open-front stationary snbstantially rectangnlar box-like frame having end members and a back member connecting said end members together, a conversion unit comprising a hon'- zontal panel and end members, said end members of said conversion unit being pivoted to said end members of said stationary frame on an axis therethrongh vertically spaced from said horizontal panel whereby said conversion unit may be rotated substantially 180 to a first posi: tion with said panel above said axis and at a height suitable for said panel to serve as a desktop, and to a second position With said panel below said axis at a suitable height for said panel to serve as a mattress support, and a mattress supported on one face of said panel.

2. A combination desk and conch according to claim 1 wherein said panel, in said first position, has an upstanding back member and a depending front member protecting the front edge of said mattress when said conversion unit is in said first position.

3. A combination desk and conch according to claim 1 wherein said end members of said conversion unit, in said first position, extend above said panel and below said mattress, and the lower edges thereof engage the top edge of said back member to serve as stop means for said conversion unit in said first position.

4. A combination desk and `conch according to claim 2 wherein said depending front member engages flatwise against the front surface of said back member in said second position of said conversion unit to serve as stop means therefor when it is in said second position.

5; In a combined desk and conch, a stationary box-like rectangnlar frame of U-shape in plan view and thereby having an open front, a conversion unit within said U- shaped frame, said conversion unit comprising a horizontal panel and end members, said end members of said conversion unit being pivoted to said stationary frame on au axis therethrough vertically spaced from said horizontal panel Whereby said conversion unit may be rotated snbstantially to a first position with said panel above said axis and at a height suitable for said panel to serve as a desk top, and to a second position with said panel below said axis at a suitable height for said panel to serve as a mattress support, and a mattress supported on one face of said panel.

6. An article of furniture according to claim 5 wherein said conversion unit in said first position rests on the top of the rear portion of said U-shaped frame and in its second position has its rear surface resting against the front surface of the rear portion of said U-shaped frame.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS i NUNBERG, Pr'mary Exam'ner.

Claims (1)

1. IN A COMBINED DESK AND COUCH, AN OPEN-FRONT STATIONARY SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR BOX-LIKE FRAME HAVING END MEMBERS AND A BACK MEMBER CONNECTING SAID END MEMBERS TOGETHER, A CONVERSION UNIT COMPRISING A HORIZONTAL PANEL AND END MEMBERS, SAID END MEMBERS OF SAID CONVERSION UNIT BEING PIVOTED TO SAID END MEMBERS OF SAID STATIONARY FRAME ON AN AXIS THERETHROUGH VERTICALLY SPACED FROM SAID HORIZONTAL PANEL WHEREBY SAID CONVERSION UNIT MAY BE ROTATED SUBSTANTIALLY 180* TO A FIRST POSITION WITH SAID PANEL ABOVE SAID AXIS AND AT A HEIGHT SUIT-

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