US3864764A

US3864764A - Convertible furniture

Info

Publication number: US3864764A
Application number: US413030A
Authority: US
Inventors: Mieczyslaw Janusc
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-11-05
Filing date: 1973-11-05
Publication date: 1975-02-11
Anticipated expiration: 1992-02-11
Also published as: CA968102A

Abstract

An article of convertible furniture in which the seat portion of the furniture is of two part hinged construction pivotally mounted in the main body of the article so that the seat portion may be swung out and extended in front of the furniture, and leaving a space between the seat portion of the furniture and the back, and incorporating a moveable support frame which may be interposed in the space defined between the extended seating portion and the back, the back cushion of the furniture being removeable and insertable in such space, and being supported by such frame, whereby to provide a bed or reclining surface.

Description

United States Patent 11 1 J anusc CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE [76] Inventor: Mieczyslaw Janusc, 848 Norwich B1vd., Bay Ridges, Ontario, Canada [22] Filed: Nov. 5, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 413,030

Germany 5/29 14 1 Feb. 11, 1975 895.947 5/1962 Great Britain 5/29 Primary I:'.\'uminer.Casmir A. Nunberg [57] ABSTRACT An article of convertible furniture in which the seat portion of the furniture is of two part hinged construction pivotally mounted in the main body of the article so that the seat portion may be swung out and extended in front of the furniture. and leaving a space between the seat portion of the furniture and the back, and incorporating a moveable support frame which may be interposed in the space defined between the extended seating portion and the back, the back cushion of the furniture being removeable and insertable in such space, and being supported by such frame, whereby to provide a bed or reclining surface.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED U 3.864.764

sum 10F 2 PATENTED 3. 864.764

SHEET 2 UF 2 1 CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE The invention relates to convertible furniture such as chairs, loveseats, chesterfields and the like, which may be converted into a bed, chaise lounge or couch.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A wide variety of proposals are on record in the Patent Office for the construction of convertible furniture. Basically they all provide some form of movement for extending and levelling the seat and/or the back so as to convert from a chair or chesterfield into a bed or couch. In some cases, the back portion is hinged so as to swing backwardly, and in other cases it is hinged so as to swing and slide forwardly. In some cases, the upholstered surface of the chair portion of the furniture is used for the bed, and in other such devices an entirely separate mattress or separate mattress cushions are concealed within the device.

Generally speaking, however, all of such convertible furniture suffered from undue complexity in design. In particular most of the prior art attempts have been directed towards providing an extremely heavy complicated piece of furniture, and then incorporating in it a variety of counterbalancing devices or springs by means of which the actual weight of the moveable portions of the furniture is reduced so that it may more readily be converted from one mode to another without undue effort or strain.

As a result of this complexity in design, the devices have been unduly expensive to manufacture and have been prone to breakdown, and have also lead to limitations on the various designs possible for such furniture, and in particular have resulted in the construction of heavy clumsy overstuffed furniture such as is totally unacceptable in more restricted living quarters such as apartments, townhouses and the like, where such furniture will of course, by its very nature, find its greatest utility.

It is therefore generally desireable to provide some form of convertible furniture which is light and simple to construct, and which eliminates as far as possible all counter balancing means and undue complexity so that it may be made as cheaply and as simply as possible. In addition, it is desireable that the form of convertibility of the furniture shall be such that it adapts readily to a chair, loveseat or chesterfield, and may be made up in a wide variety of different forms of contemporary design without the construction of the convertible portions of the furniture unduly limiting such design.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention seeks to overcome the foregoing disadvantages, and to provide an article of convertible furniture in which the seat portion of the furniture is of two part hinged construction pivotally mounted so that the seat portion may be swung out and extended in front of the furniture, and leaving a space between the seat portion of the furniture and the back, and incorporating a moveable support frame which may be interposed in the space defined between the extended seating portion and the back, the back cushion of the furniture being removeable and insertable in such space, and being supported by such frame, whereby to provide a bed or reclining surface.

It is further and related objective of the invention to provide an article of furniture having multiple seating facilities in which the individual seating portions may be separately extended whereby one portion of the furniture may be extended to provide a reclining surface or bed while the remaining seating portion or portions may remain available for seating.

It is a further and related objective of the invention to provide an article of convertible furniture ofthe type described in which the moveable support frame may be erected in two positions to provide two different angles of support for the back cushion whereby to provide a support surface for a portion of the body which is at an angle to the remainder of the reclining surface.

It is a further and related objective of the invention to provide an article of convertible furniture of the type described in which the support frame may be stored within the article of furniture when not required for USB.

It is a further and related objective of the invention to provide an article of convertible furniture of the type described in which the support frame, when in its stored position, may also provide locating means for positioning the removeable back cushion and partially supporting the same.

The foregoing and other objectives of the invention will become apparent from a description of a preferred embodiment of the invention which is given here by way of example only with reference to the following drawings, in which like reference devices refer to like parts thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective front illustration of an article of furniture according to the invention showing one seating portion thereof extended, and one retracted for seating;

FIG. 2 is a section along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional illustration similar to FIG. 2 showing the seating portion partially extended, and, FIG. 4 is a side elevational illustration partly in section, along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1 showing the article in its reclining position.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. I, it will be seen that the invention is illustrated in the form of a loveseat or two seater chesterfield 10. It will however, be understood that the invention is not limited to such a two seater article of furniture, but is equally applicable to a chair, or a two seater or a three seater or even a four seater chesterfield if such an article should be desired.

As shown in FIG. 1, the chesterfield 10 is shown with a back 12, a base or seat portion 13, arms 14, and two seating units shown generally as 16 and 18. The seating unit 16 is shown in its seating position, and the seating unit 18 is shown extended it its reclining position.

The

seating units

16 and 18 will be seen to comprise, a back cushion 20 and an upper seat cushion 22, and, a lower seat cushion 24. As will be understood from FIG. 1, the lower seat cushion 24 is in fact concealed from view beneath the upper seat cushion 22, when the seating unit, for example, the seating unit 16, is in its seating position, as shown in FIG. I.

As will be seen from FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the back 12 and base 13 of the chesterfield 10 are of hollow construction, comprising the back panel 26, and the top panel 28, and the under panel 30 and the front panel 32. The various panels 26 to 32 are of course covered at least on the exterior with upholstery fabric, and may, if desired, be provided with a thin layer of cushion material such as foam rubber or felt or the like, if desired, these details having been omitted from the drawings for the sake of clarity.

In order to mount the two

seat cushions

22 and 24 in position, the seat cushion 24 is pivotally mounted on hub34 on the transverse pivot rod 36 extending from side to side of the chesterfield 10. If desired, the pivot rod 36 may be supported between adjacent seating units l6, 18, etc., to provide additional strength.

The upper seat cushion 22 is hingedly mounted to one edge of the lower seat cushion 24, by the hinge 38, by means of which the upper seat cushion 22 may be swung upwardly relative to the lower seat cushion 24 as shown.

An intermediate scissor like leg member 40 is pivotally mounted to both the lower seating cushion 24 and the upper seat cushion 22, so that it may be extended into a supporting and ground engaging position when the two seat cushions are extended into their reclining position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4.

A further supporting leg member 42 is pivotally mounted to the free end of the upper seat cushion 22 as shown so that'it may be extended to provide further support as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4.

A supporting lip or flange 44 is provided on the lower rear side of the lower seat cushion 24 for purposes to be described below.

The back cushion 16 is dimensioned to fit between the upper surface of the upper seat cushion 22, and the top panel 28 of the back 12. Preferably, the upper and lower edges of the cushion 16 are angled so as to provide a suitable rearwardly inclined angle for the back cushion 16.

When the upper and

lower seat cushions

22 and 24 are swung outwardly into their extended position, there will be a substantial spacing left between the rearwardly directed edge of the lower seat cushion 24 and the back panel 26 of the back 12. In order to flll in this space, a moveable supporting frame is provided which may be introduced into this space to provide a support for the back cushion 16. Such moveable support frame in this instance, is provided by means of the tubular D- shaped frame member 46 hinged to the back panel 26 at 48, and being dimensioned so that it may be swung upwardly concealed within the recess provided within the back 12 by the panel 26 and the top panel 28. A retaining clip 50 may be provided to retain it in position in its recessed position if desired.

The measurements of the frame 46 are such that it will engage the flange 44 and thereby be supported in a suitable position.

In order to provide for two different angular positions for support for the back cushion 16, the secondary support frame 52 may be used as described below. The secondary support frame 52 is pivotally mounted as at 54 to the support frame 46, and is dimensioned and arranged so that it may be swung inwardly through the support frame 46, so that it may extend on either side thereof, or lie entirely therewithin, if desired.

The secondary support frame 52 in fact can perform two functions. When the

seating unit

16, 18 or the like is in its seating position, with the support frame 46 in its upright position, clipped into the clip 50, then the secondary support frame 52 can be swung downwardly to rest on the upper surface of the upper seating cushion 21. In this position, it acts as a support for the lower rearward surface of the back cushion 20, and prevents the back cushion 20 from slipping rearwardly when a person is sitting in the chair.

When the upper and

lower seating cushions

22 and 24 are in their reclining position, and when the support frame 46 has been swung downwardly on the flange 44, the secondary support frame 52 can be swung upwardly and rearwardly so that it rests against the inside of the back panel 26, and in that position it will rest at an upwardly inclined angle. and will then provide support for the upper rear edge of the back cushion 20, so that the back cushion I6 is then supported in an upwardly angled reclining position suitable for use as a couch rather than a bed. Alternatively, the secondary support frame 52 may simply be swung downwardly through the support frame 46, so that the back cushion 20 simply rests on the supporting frame 46 in the manner described above.

ln this way two positions of support for the back cushion 20 are provided.

It will of course be appreciated that during use as seat, the lower seat cushion 24 rests on the inside of the under panel 30, and the upper seat cushion is supported on the undersurface of the lower seat cushion. The two seat cushions are folded out merely by grasping the front portion of the upper seat cushion 22 and pulling it upwardly and outwardly so that it swings with it the lower seat cushion 24 into its extended reclining position.

The support frame 46 may then be folded down onto the flange 44, and the back cushion 20 is then supported either horizontal or in an upward inclined position in the manner described above.

It will be seen that by this means an article of furniture may be provided having either one two three or four seats, each one of which can be separately converted from a seat into a bed or couch. In addition, it will be observed that there is a total absence of interconnecting linkages and springs such as characterized such convertible furniture in the past, and the entire unit may be provided in a compact and yet readily useable manner. In addition, convertible furniture according to the invention is clearly very well adapted to use in a variety of different furniture designs, such as will enable its use on a much wider scale than in the case of prior art proposals.

The foregoing is a description of a preferred embodiment of the invention which is given here by way of example only. The invention is not to be taken as limited to any of the specific features as described, but comprehends all such variations thereof as come within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An article of convertible furniture, convertible between tub positions, in one position providing a seating unit, and in the other position providing a reclining unit, said article having a back portion and a seat portion and comprising;

intermediate cushion means having an upholstered surface located in said seat portion with said upholstered surface directed downwardly;

pivot means connected to said intermediate cushion whereby the same may be rotated outwardly from said seat portion, with said upholstered surface directed upwardly;

upper cushion means, having an upholstered surface located in said seat portion with said upholstered surface directed upwardly, super-adjacent said intermediate cushion means when in a seating position;

means pivotally connecting said intermediate cushion means and said upper cushion means whereby the same may be swung into alignment with one another into a reclining position;

support means for said upper cushion means supporting the same when swung into the reclining position as aforesaid;

back cushion means having front and rear surfaces and located between said back portion and said upper cushion means, when said article is in its said seating position said back cushion being removeable;

main support frame means swingably mounted on said article between said back portion and said back cushion means and swingable outwardly for supporting said back cushion means in the reclining position, and,

secondary frame means swingably mounted on said main frame means for supporting said rear surface of back cushion means when the same is in the seating position.

2. An article of furniture is claimed in claim 1 including intermediate legmeans connected between said intermediate cushion means and said upper cushion means, and extending therefrom for supporting the junction therebetween when they are extended from said seat portion in said reclining position.

3. An article of furniture as claimed in claim 1, wherein said main support frame means is pivotally mounted on said back portion of said article for swinging between a stored substantially upright position. and an in use position, and including abuttment means formed on said intermediate cushion means, said support frame means being dimensioned and arranged so as to interengage with said abutment means when the same is swung into its in use position as aforesaid. thereby prodiving support for said back cushion extending between said intermediate cushion means and said back portion.

4. An article of furniture as claimed in claim 3 wherein, when said main support frame means is in its in use position as aforesaid, said secondary frame means is swingeable between an upper in use position. and a lower out of use position, said secondary frame means being dimensioned and arranged whereby to lie against said back portion of said article when in its in use position as aforesaid whereby to provide an inclined support for said back cushion, thereby permitting the same to be used either in an upper reclining position or a lower reclining position as desired.

5. An article of furniture as claimed in claim 1 including a back panel forming part ofsaid back portion, and wherein said back cushion means when in the seating position defines a space between itself and said back panel, for storage of said main and secondary frame means therein, said back cushion when in a reclining position extending into said space, whereby to provide greater length for reclining.

Claims

1. An article of convertible furniture, convertible between tub positions, in one position providing a seating unit, and in the other position providing a reclining unit, said article having a back portion and a seat portion and comprising; intermediate cushion means having an upholstered surface located in said seat portion with said upholstered surface directed downwardly; pivot means connected to said intermediate cushion whereby the same may be rotated outwardly from said seat portion, with said upholstered surface directed upwardly; upper cushion means, having an upholstered surface located in said seat portion with said upholstered surface directed upwardly, super-adjacent said intermediate cushion means when in a seating position; means pivotally connecting said intermediate cushion means and said upper cushion means whereby the same may be swung into alignment with one another into a reclining position; support means for said upper cushion means supporting the same when swung into the reclining position as aforesaid; back cushion means having front and rear surfaces and located between said back portion and said upper cushion means, when said article is in its said seating position said back cushion being removeable; main support frame means swingably mounted on said article between said back portion and said back cushion means and swingable outwardly for supporting said back cushion means in the reclining position, and, secondary frame means swingably mounted on said main frame means for supporting said rear surface of back cushion means when the same is in the seating position.

2. An article of furniture is claimed in claim 1 including intermediate leg means connected between said intermediate cushion means and said upper cushion means, and extending therefrom for supporting the junction therebetween when they are extended from said seat portion in said reclining position.

3. An article of furniture as claimed in claim 1, wherein said main support frame means is pivotally mounted on said back portion of said article for swinging between a stored substantially upright position, and an in use position, and including abuttment means formed on said intermediate cushion means, said support frame means being dimensioned and arranged so As to interengage with said abutment means when the same is swung into its in use position as aforesaid, thereby prodiving support for said back cushion extending between said intermediate cushion means and said back portion.

4. An article of furniture as claimed in claim 3 wherein, when said main support frame means is in its in use position as aforesaid, said secondary frame means is swingeable between an upper in use position, and a lower out of use position, said secondary frame means being dimensioned and arranged whereby to lie against said back portion of said article when in its in use position as aforesaid whereby to provide an inclined support for said back cushion, thereby permitting the same to be used either in an upper reclining position or a lower reclining position as desired.

5. An article of furniture as claimed in claim 1 including a back panel forming part of said back portion, and wherein said back cushion means when in the seating position defines a space between itself and said back panel, for storage of said main and secondary frame means therein, said back cushion when in a reclining position extending into said space, whereby to provide greater length for reclining.