US744839A - Hinge for sofa-beds. - Google Patents

Description

No. 744,839. PATENTED NOV. 24, 1903. T. G. WEYER.

HINGE FOR SOFA BEDS.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR. 27. 1903.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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THEODORE G. WEYER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO S. KARJPEN & BROS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

HINGE FOR sora eeoe.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 744,839, dated November 24, 1903. Application filed March 27, 1903. $erial No. 149,881- (No modeL) To It whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE G. VVEYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illi nois, have invented anew and useful Hinge for Sofa-Beds, 630., of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in sofa-beds, and more particularly to the hinges 1o employed therein, although, as will be obvinus/[he improved hinge may be employed in other relations than that shown.

The principle of the improved hinge as well as its mainly intended application and operation will be found fully set forth in United States patent to Weyer, No. 624,591, dated May 9, 1899. The patent mentioned illustrates and describes a sofa-bed comprising back and seat sections, the two being hinged together at their meeting edges, and a boxseclion constituting a base, a support for the seat-section, and also a receptacle for bedding, etc; The back and seat sections are capable of swinginginto a common horizontal plane, as when the article is used as a bed, or at substantially a rightangle, as when employed as a sofa, all by a proper manipulation of the seat-section.

The main objects of my present invention are to improve upon the construction of hinge referred to by simplifying, strengthening, and cheapening the same as well as rendering its application easier, to provide suitable stops on the hinge-leaves, and, finally, to provide an improved automatic means for securely locking and unlocking the leaves thereof, and consequently the back and seat sections when the same occupy certain relative positions to which they may be brought by a manipu- 1,0 lation of the seat-section by a person standing in front of the sofa, and, furthermore, to improve the sofa-bed frame by providing the same at its back with a pair of gates preferably designed when open, as when in bed form, to form counterparts of the sides of the sofa-frame and combine therewith to produce head and foot sections of the bed; to adapt said gates when open to form supports for the back-section when lowered into bed form; to provide means for automatically closing said gates and locking the same when said 'baok-section is raised, and, finally, to provide means for automatically opening said gates through a manipulation of the seat and without the necessity of a person operating the same going behind the sofa for this purose.

p Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a View of my improved sofa-bed with one side or end removed, the back and seat sections being shown in elevation and the base or box in vertical transverse section. Fig. 2 is adetail in elevation of my improved hinge, the parts being in the position occupied when said hinge is open and the sofa converted to a bed. Fig. 2 is a detail hereinafter referred to. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, the hinge being shown in the position it occupies when the back of the sofa is elevated and the hinge locked. Fig. 4 is a similar view, the hinge being in the position it occupies when the back has been lowered and the seat raised to its highest position.

Similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout the drawings.

The sofa-bed in the present instance, as heretofore, comprises the usual base, which is preferably formed by a receptacle or box 1, from the opposite ends of which may rise the sides 2, the same being given any design desired and best adapted for the purpose. These sides may be connected at suitable points by cross pieces 3 in order to lend proper rigidity to the frame as a whole.

In the present instance 4 designates the usual seat frame or section, which is mounted upon and supported by the bOX or base, and 5 designates the back frame or section, it being understood that these sections or frames are suitably upholstered to constitute, when lowered to a common horizontal plane, acomfortable bed having, substantially, an unbroken mattress or bed surface.

In the class of sofas referred to and in connection with this class of hinges it is usual to employ and secure to the base-section or too box 1, at each end thereof, a standard 7,which extends upwardly above and to one side of said box-section to a point between the meeting ends of the seat and back sections, and which therefore constitutes the pintle-support for the hinge. Of course this standard could be omitted and the pintle applied diroot to the side 2 of the sofa.

The hinge comprises a pair of plates or leaves, designated as 8 and 9, each of which.

. ing car 13, and at its lower inner corner with angularly-disposed stop-shoulders 14, each of which abuts against the standard 7 when the leaves occupy a horizontal position (see Fig. 2) and the article is in the bed position. It will be understood that the stop-shoulders and ears are simply struck up or bent from the stock of said metal.

Pivoted, as at 15, to the face of the leaf 8 and preferably within a clip 16, secured to said leaf, is a gravity-latch 17, the free end of which extends across and beyond the opposite or companion leaf 9. A keeper 18 is spaced from and mounted upon the leaf 9, so as t-oact as a guide for the aforesaid gravitylatch. This keeper is supported by upper and lower pins 19 and 20, respectively, the latter serving to engage, when the leaves are in a certain relative position, with a notch 21, formed in the under side and at the free end of the aforesaid gravity-latch. Pivoted, as at 22, on the outer face of the latch 17, immediately in rear of the notch 21, is aloose gravity dog 23, the free end of which is notched, as at 24, the latter notch being a slight distance in advance of the notch 21 of the gravity-latch when the said dog is substantially parallel with said latch. The dog 23.is limited in its movements by means of suitable stop-pins 25. The upper side of the latch 17 a slight distance in advance of its pivot-point 15 is provided with anotch or recess 26, and arranged in the path of the same is the free end of a gravity lockingpawl 27, that is pivotally supported at its upper end and above the latch on the leaf 8 by means of a pin 28. This completes the construction of my improved hinge, and I will now proceed to describe certain improvements that relate more especially to the sofa-frame.

Hinged, as at 29, to the rear edges of the sides 2 is a pair of gates 30, the general design of which preferably corresponds to that of the sides 2, so that when the said gates are open or in line with said sides 2 they will combine therewith to produce foot and head sections of the converted bed. The hinges 29 are preferably spring-actuated, so as to exert a constant tendency to close the gates, and therefore'the back of the sofa. It will be understood, however, that in lieu of spring-actuated hinges ordinary hinges may be substituted and springs otherwise arranged independent of the hinges for exerting a tendency toward closing said gates, if desired. Each gate may be further provided at its inner side with a horizontal cleat 31, the same being in the same plane as the upper edge of the box 1, and therefore in position to receive and support the back-section 5 when the latter shall have been lowered to produce a bed. I may also provide, though it is not absolutely necessary, a means for temporarily locking the said gates in their closed position. In the present instance for this purpose I have secured to the rear of the box 1 a keeper 32, one being located near each end of the box, and have formed ineach gate an opening 33, in each of which is pivoted a latch 34. It will be obvious that when .the gates are closed the latches will engage the keepers, and hence lock the gates. The rear ends or tails of these latches (see Fig. 2*) extend beyond the rear faces of the gates, whereby access may be had to the latches for the purpose of conveniently depressing and disconnecting the same. The back-section 5 near each end may furthermore be provided with a button or pin 35, and in the path of the same and secured to the inner face of each gate may be a wear-plate 36 of segmental shape, against which the aforesaid button is designed to ride when the back-section is lowered and the gates spread or open as a result of such action, all as will hereinafter appear.

As will be inferred, the leaf 8 is by suitable screws secured to the end rail of the seat-section 4 and the leaf 9 similarly secured to the end rail of the back-section 5.

It will of course be understood that the hinge described is duplicated at the opposite side of the sofa-bed, the two hinges operating simultaneously.

Taking the parts in the position shown in Fig. 3, which is that occupied by them when the back is elevated and the article in position for use as a sofa, as in Fig. 1, with the exception that in said latter figure the gate has been shownopen for the purpose of illustration, it will be obvious that the gravity locking-pawl 27, engaging at its free end in the recess 26 of the latch 17, successfully prevents any further elevation or movement whatsoever of the latch 17 and which would serve to disconnect the notch 21 thereofwith the stud or pin 20. In this manner it will be obvious that the back and seat sections are securely and rigidly connected, so that any independent movement of either is an III absolute impossibility. This is the condition the parts are in when the article-of furniture is used as a sofa, and I will now proceed to describe the operation of converting the said sofa into a bed. For this purpose it must be considered that the gates 30 are closed and the parts otherwise in the position shown in Fig. 1. The gates having been unlatched, if latches are used, by a ready application of the toe of the boot to the rear ends of the latches and the sofa withdrawn from the wall a sufficient distance, the front end of the seat is grasped by the operator and said seat swung upward until it occupies substantially a vertical position. This upward movement of the seat, the seat and back being locked together, necessarily causes a reverse or downward movement of the back until the latter rests upon the cleats 31. As the back moves downward the buttons or studs 35, acting against the wear-plates 36, serve to force the gates against the tendency of their springs to an open position, as shown in Fig. 1, so that, as will be obvious, the back has been lowered and the gates open all from the. front of the sofa and by a manipulation of the seat-section. In order to aid in this opening of the gates, I may prefer to employ one or more retracting springs 37, connecting the same in suitable eyes that project from the rear of the box 1 or other base and the back-section frame 5. When the parts have been thus operated n pon, it will be observed that the leaf 8 of the hinge has reached a position whereby the lockingpawl 27,fallingbygravity, hasswungoutward and away from the recess 26 of the gravitylatch, so that as a result the said leaf 8 and its seat may be swung slightly beyond the vertical, as shown in Fig. 4, and sufficiently far to cause the notch 2i of the gravity-latch to recede from the pin or stud 20 and permit of the notch 2% of the dog 23 falling into such engagement with said pin or stud. It now only remains to lower the seat-section and leaf 8, and in so doing the dog 23 acts as a fulcrum for the latch 17, elevating the latter, so that its notch 21 will pass over the stud 20, and thus permit a'complete lowering of the seat. The seat and back sections are now in position where they combine to form practically an unbroken bed-surface, as is usual. To return the parts to the first position, or, in other Words, convert the bed to a sofa, it is simply necessary to regrasp the seat-section and elevate the same until the notch 21 of the latch 17 engages with the pin 20 and to subsequently lower said seat-section. As the seat-section is lowered the back-section is consequently elevated, and the locking-pawl 27, beingheld by the stop-pin 29 in proper relation, reenters at its free end the recess 26 of the latch 27, and hence relocks these parts rigidly together. If the gates 30 are springactuated, their closing movements will follow the elevation of the back.

By myinvention it will be seen that I have constructed ahinge in an economical manner of sheet metal and wherein all the locking parts are comprised within the hinge, that the operation of said parts is entirely caused by a manipulation of the seat-section, and that the seat and back sections are so firmlylocked together that the latter may be utilized for pressing open gates hinged at the opposite sides of the sofa-hed frame.

I do not confine my invention to the details herein referred to, but hold that I may vary the same to any degree within the knowledge of the skilled mechanic without sacrificing any of the advantages or departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is- 1. The combinatiomwith the seat and back of a sofa-bed, of a hinge comprising opposite leaves connected with the back and seat thereof, a pintle, a support for the same, means for holding the leaves at a predetermined angle, and means for locking the holding means against releasing said leaves prior to a movement in unison of the back and seat.

2. The combination with the seat and back I of a sofa-bed, of a hinge comprising opposite leaves connected with the back and] seat, means for holding the leaves at a predetermined angle, and means for locking the holding means against releasing said leaves prior to a movement in unison of the back and seat and for unlocking said holding means and permitting such independent movement subsequent to such movement in unison of the said back and seat.

3. The combination with the seat and back of a sofa-bed, of a hinge comprising opposite leaves connected with the back and seat, means carried by the leaves for holding the leaves at a predetermined angle, and means for locking the holding means, whereby independent movement prior to a movement of the back and. seat in unison thereof is prevented.

4. The combination with the seat and back of a sofa-bed, of a hinge comprising opposite leaves connected with the back and seat, a latch carried by one of the leaves and adapted to engage the other leaf whereby the back and seat are held at a predetermined angle against independent movement, and means for locking said latch against disengagement with said leaf prior to a movement in unison of the back and seat.-

5. The combination with the seat and back of a sofa-bed, of a hinge comprising opposite leaves connected with the back and seat, a latch carried by one of the leaves and adapted to engage the other leaf whereby the back and seat are held at a predetermined angle against independent movement, and means carried by the hinge and adapted to lock said latch in its holding position when the back and seat are in their normal positions as such and to unlock said latch subsequent to a raising of the seat and lowering of the back.

6. The combination with the seat and back of a sofa-bed, of a hinge comprising opposite leaves connected with the back and seat, a latch carried by one of the leaves and adapted to engage the other leaf whereby the back and seat are held at a predetermined angle against independent movement, and a gravity-pawl pivoted in rear of the latch and adapted to engage the same when the seat and back occupy their positions as such and to automatically release the latch subsequent to a lowering of the back and raising of the seat.

7. The combination in a sofa-bed, comprising a seat and back section, of hinges connecting the same, means forlocking the hinges together during a raising of the seat and lowering of the back and means for unlocking the hinges when the back is lowered, a pair of spring-actuated gates hinged to the sofaframe in the path of the back and the coiled spring connecting the back and sofa-frame.

8. The combination with the seat and back of a sofa-bed, of hinges therefor, each comprising a pair of hinge-leaves secured to the seat and back respectively and pivoted together at their inner ends, a latch notched at its free end and pivoted eccentrically at its opposite end to one of said leaves and adapted to engage a projection on the opposite leaf, a dog pivoted upon the latch and having a notched end in advance of the notch of the latch, and a loose pawl eccentrically pivoted on the latch-carrying leaf, and adapted for automatically engaging said latch when the leaves are brought to a predetermined angle and disengaging the same when in substantially the same plane.

9. In a sofa-bed, the combination with the back and seat thereof, the hinge comprising the opposite pair of leaves having their upper inner corners pivotally connected, one of said leaves being provided beyond its pintle-point with the angularly-disposed stop-shoulder12, and each of said leaves having at their lower inner corners the angular stop-shoulders 14, the latch 17 pivoted on one of the leaves and terminating in the notched end 21, and provided on its upper edge with the angular recess 26, the keeper 18 having pins 19 and 20 the latter in the path of the notch 21, the dog 23 pivoted at 22 to the latch and having the free end notched at 24 slightly in advance of the notch 21 of the latch, and the loosely-pivoted gravity-pawl 27 pivoted at 28 eccentrically upon the latch-carrying leaf, a stop for supporting the same whereby its free end is maintained in the path of the notch 26 of the latch and the standard 7.

10. The combination, in a sofa bed, of hinged back and seat sections mounted for movement both as a unit and independently, and a retracting-spring connecting the back and base of the sofa and adapted to resist the elevation of the back.

11. The combination, in a sofa-bed, com prising a hinged back, of a pair of spring-actuated gates hinged to'the rear opposite sides of the sofa-frame and normally closed, wearplates mounted on the gates, and studs carried by the back and adapted to ride over said wear-plates.

12. The combination, in a sofa-bed, comprising a hinged back,of spring-actuated gates hinged to the sides of the frame in the path of the back and adapted to be opened by a lowering of the latter, and a spring for normally drawing the back downward.

13. The combination, in a sofa-bed, comprising a seat and back section, of hinges connecting the same, means forlocking the hinges together during a raising of the seat and low eringof the back and for unlocking the hinges when the back is lowered, and a pair of spring actuated gates hinged to the sofaframe in the path of the back.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THEODORE G. WEYER.

Witnesses:

RALPH D. MILLER, REGINA LEDERER.

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