US956836A - Convertible chair and couch. - Google Patents

Description

H. TIEDBMANN & J. U. CLARKE. CONVERTIBLE CHAIR AND GOUGH.

H. TIEDEMANN a J. U. CLARKE.

CONVERTIBLE CHAIR AND UOUCH.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 15, 1909.

956,836.4 Patented may 3, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

l HUI l i Q5 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

v HENRY TIEDEMANN, OF'CAIVIDEN, NEW JERSEY, AND JAMES U. CLARKE, OF PHILA- DELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-THIRD TO EMIL GUENTHER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA; SAID CLARKE ASSIGNOR TO JACOB IARDEN GUENTHER, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CONVERTIBLE CHAIR AND COUCI-I.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 3, 1910.

Application led May 15, 1909. Serial No. 496,264.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HENRY TIEDEMANN and JAMES U. CLARKE, citizens of the United States, the former residing in the city and county of Camden, State o New Jersey, and the latter residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Convertible Chair and Couch, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to convertible chairs, couches or the like, and has for its object to provide an article ot furniture which may normally serve the purpose of a chair, sofa or the like, and in which position no indication of its dual character appears, but which ma be readily transformed into a bed by a simple shifting of the several parts, and whereby cumbersome, mechanical appliances are not necessary as a part of the operation.

For the purpose of illustrating our invention we have shown in the accompanying drawings one form thereof which is at present preferred by us, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which our invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that our invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Figure 1 represents a perspective et a chair embodying our invention. Fig. 2 represents a section on line ca -m, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a plan of the device when used as a bed. Fig. l represents a detail of a locking device.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings z--l designates the body portion oi the chair embodying our invention, the same being supported on legs 2 and provided with a back t'rame 3 serving the usual purpose of a chair or couch back. The body portion l has preferably formed therein a compartment 4.-, wherein may be stored cushions, bed linen or the like or of course it may be used for other purposes, as desired. Communication with the interior of this compartment 4, in the present instance, is made possible by a door 5 swingingly mounted by means of hinges G or equivalent devices.

7 designates a plurality of slats, bars or the like secured preferably in a fixed manner to the body portion l and forming the seat ot' the chair and it will be noted that the same are suitably spaced apart, for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

8 designates side frames cooperating with the body portion 1, the same having the usual arms 9 and legs 10 thereon, whereby when in assembled position, as in Fig. 1, the device has every appearance of being an ordinary chair of the Morris or other type, as the case may be. In the present instance each side frame has secured thereto a plurality of slats, bars or the like 11, which are spaced apart and so positioned as to engage the spaces between the slats 7 so that when both side frames S are in contact with the body portion 1 the scat of the chair is substantially a solid level one formed of the interfitting slats.

In order to insure absolute alinement and free sliding movement of the several slats l1 with respect to the stationary slats 7, a suitable tongue and groove joint 12 is formed bet-Ween them, as clearly shown in F10. 2.

Attention is especially directed to the feature of maintaining the same level for the stationary and movable slat members,whether they are in closed, the chair, position or in open, the bed, position. As heretofore construeted couches or bed chairs have been provided with impractical telescopic devices which necessarily produce differences of level throughout the length of the couch, thus producing ridges in the mattress, which results sooner or later, in its destruction and besides forms an uncomfortable, uneven surface for the occupant thereof.

It will of course be understood that suitable means are provided for locking the side frames 8 to the bod portion 1 in order to form a safe and stable chair structure. In the present instance we provide a spring lock 14 whereby as soon as the side frames S contact with the body portion 1 they are automatically locked. When it is desired to open the chair to form a couch, a key, or equivalent device, may be inserted in the lock to release the parts and permit the eX- panding movement.

It Will be apparent that b our novel construction We have provide a chair to all appearances of the ordinary type, but which contains therein a concealed compartment for bed linen, mattress and the like, and Which may, by a simple adjustment, be transformed into a couch. As soon as the side frames 8 have been pulled out to the limit of movement al supporting surface is formed of a sufficient length to permit comfortable reclining thereon, While all points of said surface are in the same horizontal plane. The latter feature is particularly important, as thereupon depends the life of the mattress, since as heretofore constructed impractical telescoping members have caused Wear and destruction of the mattress and irregularities in the surface, making it an uncomfortable support.

It Will no-W be apparent that We have devised a novel and useful construction Which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description and While We have in the present instance shown and described the preferred embodiment thereof which has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification in various particulars Without departing from the spirit or scope of the invent-ion or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described our invention, What We claim as new' and desire to secure by 'Letters Patent, is

l. In a device of the character stated, a body portion With spaced slats and a relatively fixed compartment beneath said slats, and side frames each movable with relation to the body portion and having slats adapted to interfit With the slats of the body portion, the slats of the body portion and side frames forming a cover to said compartment. l

2. In a device of the character stated, a body portion with spaced slats and a relatively fiXed compartment beneath said slats, side frames each movable With relation to the body portion and having slats adapted to interiit with the slats of the body portion, the slats of the body portion and side frames forming a cover to said compartment, and a movably mounted front to said compartment accessible When the side frames are in their closed position.

3. In a device of the character stated, a body portion with slats spaced apart and a compartment beneath said slats, a plurality of side frames each movable laterally With relation to the body portion, slats carried by each side frame and adapted to interfit with the slats of the body portion and forming a cover' to said compartment, and an automatically acting lock to hold the side frames to the body portion in their closed position.

HENRY TIEDEMANN. JAMES U. CLARKE. y

Vitnesses:

ROBERT M. BARR, C. D. MCVAY.

Images