US3825959A

US3825959A - Seating device convertible into a bed

Info

Publication number: US3825959A
Application number: US00341906A
Authority: US
Inventors: M Shankman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-03-16
Filing date: 1973-03-16
Publication date: 1974-07-30
Anticipated expiration: 1991-07-30

Abstract

The seating device includes a first frame supported horizontally, and a seating means movable arcuately on the first frame, the seating means including a second frame mounted on the first frame, a support mounted on the second frame and movable longitudinally of the second frame, and a pair of superposed cushions mounted on the support. The support can be extended to expose part of the second frame, and one of the cushions can be placed on the exposed frame to form with the other cushion a bed mattress. In this composite structure, the first frame includes two horizontal trackways, and the second frame includes a pair of pins extending through the trackways respectively and projecting downward below the trackways to terminate slightly above floor level. The pins are upwardly removable from the trackways to permit the entire seat means to be removed from the first frame and to rest on the pins which then act as floor engaging legs for the seat means.

Description

United States Patent 119 Shankman' I SEATING DEVICE CONVERTIBLE INTO A BED [76] .lnventorz' Martin Shankm an, 4750 Alhambra Cir., Coral Gables, Fla. 33146 221 Filed: Mar 16,1973

211 Appl. No; 341,906

Primary Examiner-Casmir A. Nunberg Attorney, Agent, or FirmOItman and Flynn 1451 Ju1y30, 1974 [57] ABSTRACT The seating device includes a first frame supported I horizontally, and a seating means movable arcuately on the first frame, the seating means including a second frame mounted on the first frame, a support mounted on the second frame and movable longitudinally of the second frame, and a pair of superposed cushions mounted on the support. The support can be extended toexpose part of the second frame, and one of the cushions can be placed on the exposed frame to form with the other cushion a bed mattress. In this composite structure, the first frame includes two horizontal trackways, and the second frame includes a pair of pins extending through the trackways respectively and projecting downward below the trackways to terminate slightly above floor level. The pins are upwardly removable from the trackways to permit the entire seat means to be removed from the first frame ing legs for the seat means.

10 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures SHEET 1 0F 4 FIG. 3

mnmmmmm Ill J TilL mmmamsu 3.825.959 sum 2 or 4 FIG 4 22 PAIENTEIJmsmau mmm SHEET R BF 4 1 SEATING DEVICE CONVERTIBLE INTO A BED RELATED PATENTS This application relates'to US. Pat. Nos. 2,783,480 and 2,784,404 of the present inventor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The above patents describe and claim a seating device which is convertible into a bed by arcuate movement of a seat means ona first frame, and longitudinal extension of a portion of the seat means to an extended position forming a bed. The seating device may be a chair, a loveseat, a sofa'or a couch, by way of example. The seat means may be swungarcuately to any position within a 90 degree are relative to the underlying frame,

and'this gives a great deal of flexibility in the location of the seat means which is convertible into a bed. How ever, it is sometimes desirable toremovethe entire seat means from the underlying frame to provide even more flexibility in the location of the seat means. In accomplishing this, it would be most undesirable to have the seat means and the bed into' which it converts supported in any position but a horizontal position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to improvements in the patented devices described above, and particularly to with cushions removed and showing the seat means of the device after it has been swung out to a ninety dey an improvement which allows the seat means of the device to be removed entirely from the underlying frame and supported on the floor in aposition which may be remote from the frame. Theseat means'is provided with pins which extend through trackways on the frame, and which are removable nomme frame to'act as floor engaging legs for the seat means both in its collapsed position and its extended position. The pins are preferably provided with bushings which guide their movement on the trackways when the seat means is being swung arcuately relative to the underlying frame.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved seating device which is (1) arcuately movable to any angular position within a 90 degree arc, (2) extendible longitudinally to form a bed,

only guide the movement of the seat means, but also.

act as floor engaging legs for the seat means when it is positioned remotely from the frame of the seating device. Y I

A further object of the invention is to make the movement of theseat means on the trackways free and easy.

which cooperates with the frames.

Another object of the invention is to assure proper positioning of the frames.

Other objects of this invention will appear from the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part Another object of the invention is to provide a lock designate corresponding parts in the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.1 is a perspective view of a seating device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a frame included in the seating device;

FIG. 3 is an'elevational view of the frame;

FIG. 4 isa perspective view illustrating the movement of seat means included in the seatingdevice;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view showing a second frame superimposed on the first frame of the seating device; I

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the bed into which the seating device has been converted;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the seat means of the device in an extended condition in ,which it is found in the bed of FIG. 6; e

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the seating device gree position relative tothe frame;

FIG. 9 is a view'similar to FIG. 8 but with the seat means in an extended position; and

FIG; 10 is a sectional view of a pin structure included in-the device.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The seating device 20 which is convertible into a bed is shown in different positions of adjustment in FIGS. 1, 4 and 6. The seating device 20 in the illustrated embodiment is a couch, but it will be understood that the invention may be applied to other types of seating devices. The couch 20 includes two separate seat means 22 and 24. The purpose of two seat means is to'provide a double bed, but for a single bed, a single seat means can be utilized. Seating device 20 also includes an underlying frame 26 (FIG. 2) supported horizontally on the floor. The two seat means 22 and 24 are movable arcuately on the frame 26 to any angular position within a 90 degree are. In FIG. 4, the two seat means 22 and 24 have each been adjusted to an angle of 45 with respect to the lengthwise direction' of the frame 26. In this embodiment, a fixed back structure 28 is attached to the frame 26 and projects. upward.

In FIG. 6, thetwo seat means '22 and 24 have each been adjusted to a 90 degree position relative to the back 28 and therefore the frame 26. The two seat means ,22 and 24 have also been extended longitudinally so that eachseat means forms a single bed. Since the two seat means 22 and 24are side by side in FIG.

6, they form a double bed.

In the arrangement shown in FIG. 4, the two seat means could be extended to form two single beds positioned at an angle relative to each other. As will be explained, one or both of the seatmeans could be re-- moved from the frame 26 and moved to a position reof the trackways are mounted on a foot 46.

Frame 26 further includes additional trackways 48 v and 50 which extend generally transversely of the frame. In the illustrated embodiment, the

trackways

48 and 50 are at an acute angle with respect to the lengthwise direction of the frame. Trackway 48' comprises two

rails

52 and 54, and trackway 50 comprises two

rails

56 and 58. The pairs of rails are closely spaced and parallel to each other.

Rails

52 and 54 merge at their ends and have an extension which is attached to the inner end of trackway 30.

Rails

56 and 58 merge at their ends and have an'extension 62 which is attached to the trackway 32. The outer ends of

trackways

48 and 50 are attached to the

curved members

42 and 44. The trackways 48'and 50 are also mounted on a single foot member 64 which

ties trackways

48 and 50 together and keeps them rigid and properly spaced.

It may be seen in FIG. 3 that'foot 64 has a concave upper surface 66 which is downwardly arched to provide clearance for the two seat means when they are moved on the frame. Also in FIG. 3 it may be seen that the rear ends of

members

42 and 44 are attached to the back 28 by

plates

68 and 70 which are removably fastened with screws so that the frame 26 can be removed from the back for storage and shipment purposes. It may be noted that the back need not necessarily be a cushioned back as shown. It is also possible to replace the fixed back with a bolster arrangement in some embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 8, the seat means 24 shown there includes a second frame 72. The other seat means-22 includes a second frame 74 (FIG. 7). These two frames are also shown schematically in FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, the

frames

72 and 74 are shown in the condition they have when .the seating device is made up as a couch, and in FIGS. 7 and 8, the

frames

72 and 74 are shown in the positions they have after the

frames

72 and 74 have longitudinally to the position shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and also in FIG. 9, the top cushion is moved and placed on the exposed frame 72 so that the two seat. cushions together form a bed.

As shown in FIG. 9, the frame 72 has legs 89 (one on each side of the frame) with floor engaging wheels 91. Upper support 82 has legs 92 (one on each side) with floor engaging wheels 93. Upper support 82 also has legs 94 with wheels 96 (one shown) which ride on the tracks 76 of the frame, 72. The wheels 96 tend to remain in the depressed portions 78 and of member 76 but can roll along the upper portion of track 76.

Frame 72 has legs 98 (one on each side). A brace 100 is attached to leg 98 and to one of the side members 76. Seat means 22 has a like brace 102 (FIG. 2). Attached to brace 100 are two

pins

104 and 106. These pins may also be seen in FIG. 5. Brace 102 has two identical pins 108 and l 10 projecting downwardly from it as seen in FIG. 5. Pin 104 extends entirely through trackway 32 and terminates slightly above floor level as shown in FIG. 9. Pin 106 extends entirely through trackway 50 and terminates slightly above floor level.

Pin 108 extends entirely through trackway 30 and terminates slightly above floor level, and pin 110 extends entirely through trackway 48 and terminates slightly above floor level.

All of these pins serve to guide the movement of the two seat means as they are swung arcuately. The pins can be removed upwardly from the trackways so that each of the'seat means can be completely removed from the underlying frame 26. It may be seen in FIG. 9 that when the seat means 24 has been removed from the frame 26, the'pins 104 and 106 rest on the floor 107 along with the wheels91 to support the upper frame' tion and off-position is an important factor.

been moved arcuately to a changed position. FIG. 7

also shows the

frames

72 and 74 in an exposed condition which they have after the upper part of the seat means has been extended. g

The

frames

72 and 74 are essentially rectangular structures. The two lateral side members of each frame, such as the member 76 shown in FIG. 8, have depressed ends such as ends 78 and 80. The

side members

76 and 78 form tracks for movement of an upper support as will be described further.

Seat means 24 includes an upper support 82, and seat means 22 includes an upper support 84. These upper supports may also be essentially frames, and preferably the frames are provided with bed springs (not shown).

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, there are two superposed seat cushions 85 and 86 mounted on the support 84 of seat means 22, and there are two

additionalseat cushions

88 and 90 mounted on the upper support 82 of seat means 24. When the upper support 82 is extended FIG. 10, which is a sectional view taken along line 1010 of FIG. 8 and looking in the direction of the arrows, shows the pin 106 as an example of all the like pins. The pin 106 is threaded at its upper end 112 and screws into the brace 100.'Below the upper end 112, the pin has a shoulder at 114. A bushing 116 fits over the upper end of the pin and rests on the shoulder l 14. The bushing 116 is rotatable relative to the pin. Bushing 116 also has an upper flange 118 which spans the rails of trackway 50. Thus, the bushing 116 makes it easy for the pin 106.to glide or slide relative to the trackway 50. A foot or cap 120 is provided on the lower end of pin 106 for engaging the floor. The bushing is made of nylon plastic.

Referring again to FIG. 2, there is shown

lock members

200 and 202 mounted on

members

42 and 44 respectively.

Lock members

200 and 202 are rotatable about

pins

204 and 206. The lock members have

recesses

208 and 210. Seat means 22 and 24, and particularly the

frames

72 and 74, carry

pins

212 and 214 which enter the

recesses

208 and 210 when the two seat means are in the closed position shown in FIG. 2.'

The

lock members

200 and 202 rotate to a position wherein spring

biased plu'ngers

216 and 218 enter notches in the lock members to positively lock these members with the

pins

212 and 214 trapped in them so that the

frames

72 and 74 cannot pivot.

Handles

220 and 222 are provided on the plungers, and these handles are pulled to release the plungers and the lock members. The latter members arethen free to rotate, so the pins can move out of the recesses. The plungers are received in

sleeves

224 and 226 which are mounted on the back 28. i

The seat means 22 and 24 carry two-

abutment members

228 and 230 which are shown schematically in FIG. 2. These abutment members are actually attached to two boards 232 and 234 (FIG. 1) which are in turn attached to the

supports

82 and 84 which ride on the

frames

72 and 74. The abutment members engage

trackways

50 and 48 when the seat means 24 and 22 are in the closed positions. This assures proper positioning of the seat means and prevents the upper supports from being pulled out longitudinally to the extended position when the seat means are closed.

Thus, the invention contributes a new degree of flexibility to the patented seating devices referred to in the aforesaid United States Patents. The seat means of the device can be completely removed from the underlying frame and placed in a remote position. Thus, the frame might be located in the living room, and the seat means which converts into a bed could be removed from the frame and placed in a family room, by way of example. The pins by which this is accomplished are multifunction devices acting bothas guides for guiding the movement of the seat means in the trackways of the underlying frame, and also acting as floor engaging legs.

Having thus described my invention,] claim:

1. In a seating device including a first frame sup-- ported horizontally above floor level, and a seat means arcuately movable on said first frame for conversion into a bed including a second frame riding on said first frame, a support mounted on said second frame and movable longitudinally of said second frame to an extended position wherein a part of said second frame is with one of said trackways extending generally lengthwise of said frame and the other of said trackways extending generally widthwise of said frame, and said sec- 0nd frame includes a pair of pins extending through said trackways respectively and projecting downward below said trackways to terminate slightly above floor level, said pins being upwardly removable from said trackways to permit the entire seat means to be removed from said first frame and to rest on said pins which then act as floor engaging legs for said seat means.

2. The improvement as claimed in claim 1 in which each of said pins has a bushing thereon for guiding the movement thereof in said trackway.

3. The improvement as claimed in claim 2 in which said bushing is rotatably mounted on said pin.

4. The improvement as claimed in claim 3 in which said bushing includes a cylinder between said rails having an upper flange spanning said rails of said trackway.

5. The improvement as claimed in claim 4 in which said .bushing is made of plastic material.

6. The improvement as claimed in claim 5 in which said plastic material comprises nylon.

7. The improvement as claimed in claim 6 in which said first frame includes a foot supporting the same and located in the path of movement of said seat means, said foot having a concave downwardly arched configuration which ties together two portions of. said frame and provides clearance for said seat means.

8. The improvement as claimed in claim 1 in which said first frame includes a .second pair of trackways,

' and said device includes a second seat means having a exposed, and a pair of superposed cushions mounted second pair of pins cooperating with said second pair of trackways in the manner recited in claim 1.

9. The improvement as claimed in claim 1 in which said device includes lock means mounted on one of said frames for engaging the other said frame when said seat means is in a closed position.

10. The improvement as claimed in claim 1 in which said device includes abutment means carried by said second frame and engageable with said first frame to prevent longitudinal shifting of said seat means when said seat means is in a closed position.

Claims

1. In a seating device including a first frame supported horizontally above floor level, and a seat means arcuately movable on said first frame for conversion into a bed including a second frame riding on said first frame, a support mounted on said second frame and movable longitudinally of said second frame to an extended position wherein a part of said second frame is exposed, and a pair of superposed cushions mounted on said support so that one of said cushions may be placed on said exposed part of said second frame to form with the other cushion a bed mattress, the improvement wherein said first frame includes two horizontal trackways each having two closely spaced rails with one of said trackways extending generally lengthwise of said frame and the other of said trackways extending generally widthwise of said frame, and said second frame includes a pair of pins extending through said trackways respectively and projecting downward below said trackways to terminate slightly above floor level, said pins being upwardly removable from said trackways to permit the entire seat means to be removed from said first frame and to rest on said pins which then act as floor engaging legs for said seat means.

5. The improvement as claimed in claim 4 in which said bushing is made of plastic material.

7. The improvement as claimed in claim 6 in which said first frame includes a foot supporting the same and located in the path of movement of said seat means, said foot having a concave downwardly arched configuration which ties together two portions of said frame and provides clearance for said seat means.

8. The improvement as claimed in claim 1 in which said first frame includes a second pair of trackways, and said device includes a second seat means having a second pair of pins cooperating with said second pair of trackways in the manner recited in claim 1.