WO2021262076A1

WO2021262076A1 - Extendable piece of furniture

Info

Publication number: WO2021262076A1
Application number: PCT/SE2021/050625
Authority: WO
Inventors: Markus GIVER
Original assignee: Ikea Supply Ag
Priority date: 2020-06-24
Filing date: 2021-06-23
Publication date: 2021-12-30

Abstract

An extendable mattress support (1) is provided. The mattress support (1) comprises a first frame (10) having an inner mounting profile (11) and an outer mounting profile (12) arranged at a longitudinal distance from the inner mounting profile (11), and a second frame (20) having an inner mounting profile (21) and an outer mounting profile (22) arranged at a longitudinal distance from the inner mounting profile (21). At least the outer mounting profile (12) of the first frame (10) and the inner mounting profile (21) of the second frame (20) are provided with a plurality of connectors (30), wherein each connector (30) is arranged at least partly longitudinally displaced from the corresponding mounting profile (12, 21).

Description

EXTENDABLE PIECE OF FURNITURE

Technical Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an extendable piece of furniture. More specifically, the present invention relates to an extendable mattress support for a piece of furniture, such as a sofa bed.

Background

Furniture is often provided with extension capabilities. Such functionality can be found in various different products such as tables, sliding drawers, as well as in sofa beds. For sofa beds, the mattress support usually forms part of the seating part when the sofa bed is in a sofa configuration. When rearranging the sofa to a bed, the mattress support is extended to a larger area being suitable to accommodate one or more persons lying on the mattress support. In the prior art, extendable mattress supports for sofa beds comprise a first frame with a plurality of slats extending across the first frame, and a second frame with a plurality of slats extending across the second frame. In a non-extended position, the second frame is received inside the first frame such that the slats of the first frame are arranged generally side by side to the slats of the second frame. Each frame comprises horizontal mounting profiles to which the slats are attached. In the non-extended position, the inner mounting profile of the second frame is arranged outside, and in close contact with the inner mounting profile of the first frame. Similarly, the outer mounting profile of the second frame is arranged outside, and in close contact with the outer mounting profile of the first frame. When the mattress support is to be extended, the second frame is pulled away/ outwards from the first frame until the inner mounting profile of the second frame is arranged inside, and in close contact, with the outer mounting profile of the first frame. In the extended position, there will be an overlap between the slats of the first and second frames corresponding to the total thickness of the inner mounting profile of the second frame and the outer mounting profile of the first frame. The maximum extension of the mattress support is thereby less than two times the extension of the first frame, even when the first frame and the second frame are equal in size.

There is a desire to maximize the sleeping area of a sofa bed, i.e. the size of the mattress support. A problem with the prior art design explained above is that the total size is reduced due to the longitudinal overlap of the slats. Yet further, it is common to use a seating cushion for the sofa, which is unfolded to increase its size to thereby transform into a mattress for the sofa bed. Due to the overlap of the slats, it is difficult to manufacture the foldable cushion to provide a perfect fit as a sofa cushion, as well as a perfect fit as a mattress.

An object of the present invention is to overcome these problems.

Summary of the Invention

One object of the present invention is to increase the size of the extended mattress support in relation to the size of the non-extended mattress support, such that a larger bed can be obtained when transforming the sofa to a bed.

According to a first aspect, an extendable mattress support is provided. The mattress support comprises a first frame having an inner mounting profile and an outer mounting profile arranged at a longitudinal distance from the inner mounting profile, and a second frame having an inner mounting profile and an outer mounting profile arranged at a longitudinal distance from the inner mounting profile, wherein at least the outer mounting profile of the first frame and the inner mounting profile of the second frame are provided with a plurality of connectors, wherein each connector is arranged at least partly longitudinally displaced from the corresponding mounting profile.

This also allows an associated support member to be longitudinally displaced from the corresponding mounting profile. By the term “longitudinally displaced” it is meant to be arranged at a distance, in the moving direction of the second frame relative the first frame during use. Hence, “longitudinally” should be interpreted as an intended extension direction of the extendable mattress support. During normal use of the extendable mattress support this direction is mainly horizontal and caused by pulling out or pushing in the second frame relative the first frame. The maximum extended length of the mattress support is thereby equal to the longitudinal extension of the first frame plus the longitudinal extension of the second frame, minus the thickness of two mounting profiles. By the provision of the connectors, the mounting profiles can be made much thinner than prior art solutions, thereby reducing the impact they have on the maximum extended length of the mattress support. Yet further, the support members can be made shorter, completely removing the overlap, so that less material is used for the mattress support.

Each mounting profile may be provided with a plurality of connectors.

The connectors may be configured to connect the associated support members such that the support members extend longitudinally between the inner and outer mounting profiles of the first and second frame, respectively.

The mounting profiles may be flat bar profiles.

The connectors may be formed integral with the mounting profiles.

The connectors may be arranged at the upper end of the associated mounting profiles.

Each connector may be longitudinally displaced from its associated mounting profile in a direction towards the opposite mounting profile of the common frame.

Each connector may be provided with one or more holes for allowing attachment of an associated support member.

The second frame may be slidably supported by the first frame for transforming the mattress support between a non-extended position and an extended position.

The non-extended position may correspond to a seat configuration, and the extended position may correspond to a bed configuration.

In the non-extended position, a connector of the first frame may be arranged between two adjacent connectors of the second frame.

The first frame may be provided with at least one guiding track, and the second frame may be provided with at least one guiding member, such as a roller, being arranged to run in said guiding track. The mattress support may further comprise a plurality of support members extending longitudinally between the connectors of the inner and outer mounting profiles of each frame, respectively.

The support members may be selected from the group comprising slats, springs, or elastic bands.

According to a second aspect, a piece of furniture is provided. The piece of furniture, preferably forming a sofa bed or an armchair, comprises a mattress support according to the first aspect.

Still other objectives, features, aspects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed description as well as from the drawings.

Brief description of the Drawings

These and other aspects, features and advantages of which the invention is capable of will be apparent and elucidated from the following description of embodiments of the present invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a sofa bed arranged in a sofa configuration;

Fig. 2 is an isometric view of the sofa bed shown in Fig. 1, in an intermediate position during transformation from a sofa configuration to a bed configuration;

Fig. 3 is a top view of an extendable mattress support according to prior art, in a non-extended and a fully extended position;

Fig. 4 is a top view of an extendable mattress support according to an embodiment, in a non-extended and a fully extended position;

Fig. 5 is an isometric view of an extendable mattress support according to an embodiment, in a non-extended position corresponding to a sofa configuration;

Fig. 6 is an isometric view of the extendable mattress support shown in Fig. 5, a partly extended position; and

Fig. 7 is an isometric view of the extendable mattress support shown in Figs. 5 and 6, in a fully extended position.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments of the invention The following description is related to an extendable mattress support for a piece of furniture, such as a sofa bed or an armchair. As will be understood from the following the mattress support forms part of a seating portion as well as of a bed portion, depending on the extension of the mattress support.

In Fig. 1 one example of an extendable piece of furniture S is shown. The piece of furniture S is in this embodiment in the form of a sofa bed, being transformable between the sofa configuration shown in Fig. 1 and an extended bed configuration. The sofa bed S is for this purpose provided with an extendable mattress support 1 as can be further seen in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 illustrates the sofa bed S in an intermediate position. In this intermediate position the sofa bed S is reversibly transforming from the sofa configuration, shown in Fig. 1, to a bed configuration. In the intermediate position, the mattress support 1 is already completely transformed to an extended position corresponding to a bed configuration of the mattress support 1. Once a head portion HP has been folded down, the sofa bed S is ready to use as a bed.

The extendable mattress support 1 comprises a first frame 10 and a second frame 20 being moveable relative the first frame 10. Each frame 10, 20 has a rectangular shape and a plurality of support members 40, here in the form of slats, extend across each frame 10, 20 in a longitudinal direction.

In order to fully explain the present invention, reference is first made to a prior art solution as shown in Fig. 3. The mattress support 1 is shown in the non-extended position (the upper part of Fig. 3) as well as in the extended positon (the bottom part of Fig. 3). For facilitated understanding, the first frame 1 is shown with no fill pattern, while the second frame 20 is shown with a dotted fill pattern.

Each frame 10, 20 has two horizontal mounting profiles 11, 12, 21, 22 formed as rectangular tube metal profiles. The mounting profiles 11, 12, 21, 22 extend in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (i.e. the direction in which the mattress support 1 is extended). For each frame 10, 20, the horizontal mounting profiles 11, 12, 21, 22 are interconnected at their ends by means of two opposite edge profiles 13, 23 extending longitudinally (only one being shown in Fig. 3). Hence, the longitudinal distance between the two mounting profiles 11, 12, 21, 22 of a respective frame 10, 20 is set by the length of the edge profiles 13, 23.

Longitudinal slats 40 are connected at the mounting profiles 11, 12, 21, 22 such that for each frame 10, 20, the slats 40 extend between the two mounting profiles 11-12, 21 22

Each frame 10, 20 has an inner mounting profile 11, 21, being arranged towards the rear of the mattress support 1, and an outer mounting profile 12, 22, being arranged towards the front of the mattress support 1.

In the non-extended position of the mattress support 1, the inner mounting profile 21 of the second frame 20 is arranged outside, and in close contact with the inner mounting profile 11 of the first frame 10. Similarly, the outer mounting profile 22 of the second frame 20 is arranged outside, and in close contact with the outer mounting profile 21 of the first frame 10. This forms a compact configuration of the mattress support 1. The minimum length Wmin of the mattress support 1 is indicated, corresponding to the length of the first frame 10 plus the longitudinal thickness LT of the outer mounting profile 22 of the second frame 20.

In the extended position, shown at the bottom part of Fig. 3, the inner mounting profile 21 of the second frame 20 is arranged immediately inside, and in close contact, with the outer mounting profile 12 of the first frame 10. The outer mounting profile 22 of the second frame 20 is arranged at its maximum distance from the outer mounting profile 12 of the first frame 10. The maximum length Wmax of the mattress support 1 corresponds to the length of the first frame 10 plus the length of the second frame 20 minus the longitudinal thickness of the inner mounting profile 21 of the second frame 20 and minus the longitudinal thickness of the outer mounting profile 12 of the first frame 10. Since the slats 40 are connected to the mounting profiles 11-12, 21-22, there is an overlap 5 of the slats 40 of the first and second frame 10, 20 corresponding to the longitudinal thickness of the inner mounting profile 21 of the second frame 20 and the longitudinal thickness of the outer mounting profile 12 of the first frame 10.

As is clear from the description above, the maximum length Wmax is significantly less than twice the minimum length Wmin, due to the longitudinal thickness of the mounting profiles 11-12, 21-22. Fig. 4 illustrates a top view of an embodiment of an extendable mattress support 1. The extendable mattress support 1 has some similarities with the prior art mattress support 1 of Fig. 3, i.e. it comprises a first frame 10 comprising horizontal mounting profiles 11-12, and an second frame 20 also comprising horizontal mounting profiles 21-22.

The mattress support 1 is transformable between a non-extended position, as shown in the upper part of Fig. 4, and an extended position, as shown in the bottom part of Fig. 4. Transformation between these two positions is accomplished by pulling the second frame 20 out from the first frame 10.

Each frame 10, 20 has two horizontal mounting profiles 11-12, 21-22, preferably formed as flat bar profiles. Hence, the mounting profiles 11-12, 21-22 may have a flat, plate-like configuration. The mounting profiles 11-12, 21-22 extend in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (i.e. the direction in which the mattress support 1 is extended). For each frame 10, 20, the horizontal mounting profiles 11-12, 21-22 are interconnected at their ends by means of two opposite edge profiles 13, 23 extending longitudinally (only one being shown in Fig. 4). Hence, the longitudinal distance between the two mounting profiles 11-12, 21-22 of a respective frame 10, 20 is set by the length of the edge profiles 13, 23.

Longitudinal support members 40 are connected at the mounting profiles 11- 12, 21-22 such that for each frame 10, 20, the support members 40 extend between the two mounting profiles 11-12, 21-22. For the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the support members 40 are wooden slats.

In the non-extended position of the mattress support 1, the inner mounting profile 21 of the second frame 20 is arranged outside, and in close contact with the inner mounting profile 11 of the first frame 10. Similarly, the outer mounting profile 22 of the second frame 20 is arranged outside, and in close contact with the outer mounting profile 21 of the first frame 10. The minimum length Wmin of the mattress support 1 is indicated, corresponding to the length of the first frame 10 plus the longitudinal thickness LT of the outer mounting profile 22 of the second frame 20. Due to the flat, plate-like configuration of the mounting profiles 11-12, 21-22, the longitudinal thickness of the mounting profiles 11-12, 21-22 is significantly less than for the prior art mattress support.

In the extended position, shown at the bottom part of Fig. 4, the inner mounting profile 21 of the second frame 20 is arranged immediately inside, and in close contact, with the outer mounting profile 12 of the first frame 10. This also decreases the minimum length Wmin compared to prior art mattress supports. A decreased minimum length Wmin allows for easier storage of the mattress support 1 inside a furniture, such as for instance a sofa bed.

The outer mounting profile 22 of the second frame 20 is arranged at its maximum distance from the outer mounting profile 12 of the first frame 10. The maximum length Wmax of the mattress support 1 corresponds to the length of the first frame 10 plus the length of the second frame 20 minus the longitudinal thickness of the inner mounting profile 21 of the second frame 20 and minus the longitudinal thickness of the outer mounting profile 12 of the first frame 10.

Again, due to the very thin mounting profiles 11-12, 21-22, the maximum length Wmax is approximately equal to twice the minimum length Wmin.

As can be seen in Fig. 4 the mounting profiles 11-12, 21-22 are not directly connected to the support members 40; instead, the mounting profiles 11-12, 21-22 are provided with a plurality of connectors 30 which form means for attaching the support members 40 to the mounting profiles 11-12, 21-22 indirectly. The connectors 30 are arranged such that the associated support members 40 extend longitudinally between the inner and outer mounting profiles 11-12, 21-22 of the first and second frames 10, 20.

Each connector 30 is preferably arranged to connect an associated support member 40 at a position being longitudinally displaced from the corresponding mounting profile 11-12, 21-22. For this, each connector 30 is longitudinally displaced from its associated mounting profile 11-12, 21-22 in a direction towards the opposite mounting profile 11-12, 21-22 of the common frame 10, 11.

Since the support member 40 are connected using the connectors 30, these connectors 30 will instead form the previous overlap 5 such that there is no overlap between the support members 40. Yet further, the total overlap 6 between the first and second frame 10, 20 is defined by the longitudinal thickness of the inner mounting profile 21 of the second frame 20 and the longitudinal thickness of the outer mounting profile 12 of the first frame 10. Due to the slim configuration of the mounting profiles 11-12, 21-22, this overlap is essentially negligible compared to the total length Wmax of the extended mattress support 1.

Fig. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a mattress support 1 in a non-extended position. The mattress support 1 comprises a first frame 10 and a second frame 20, each frame 10, 20 having mounting profiles 11-12, 21-22 and connectors 30 for attaching support members 40 to the respective frames 10, 20. As can be seen in Fig. 5, in the non-extended position, a connector 30 of the first frame 10 is arranged between two adjacent connectors 30 of the second frame 20.

Each connector 30 is preferably a metal plate being formed integral with the corresponding mounting profile 11-12, 21-22 by folding a part of the material of the mounting profile 11-12, 21-22 at the top of the mounting profile 11-12, 21-22. As shown in Fig. 5, each connector 30 is a plate member extending at the top of and in a longitudinal direction from the corresponding mounting profile 11-12, 21-22.

Each connector 30 is further preferably provided with one or more holes 31, 32 for allowing the support members 40 to be screwed to the connector 30.

As the support member 40 can be connected to the connector 30, the support member 40 is not directly connected to the mounting profile 11-12, 21-22. Hence, the mounting profiles 11-12, 21-22 can consequently be made much thinner than prior art solutions, thereby reducing the overlap 5 and the impact they have on the total length of the mattress support 1. In Fig. 5, the mounting profiles 11-12, 21-22 are adjacent to each other, or in contact with each other, forming a very thin overlap 6 (shown in Fig. 4), as opposed to the broader overlap 5 shown in the prior art mattress support in Fig. 3.

In one embodiment, the second frame 20 is slidably supported by the first frame 10. For this, the first frame 10 is provided with at least one guiding track 50, and the second frame 20 is provided with at least one guiding member, such as a roller 51, being arranged to run in said guiding track 50. The guiding track 50 preferably extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal extension of the mattress support 1, from the edge profile 13. Further, the guiding track 50 may comprise a groove designed to hold and engage the guiding member 51. Alternatively, the guiding track 50 is provided in the second frame 20 and the guiding member is provided in the first frame 10.

With this solution using a guiding track 50 and the guiding member 51 as shown in Figs 5-7, the sliding arrangement of the mattress support 1 is integrated inside the mattress support 1 and invisible for the user. In addition, no rollers or tracks extends beyond the first frame 10, which would take up excess space and complicating the storage of the mattress support 1 inside e.g. a sofa bed. Furthermore, rollers or guiding members provided outside the frames 10 may obstruct the adjacent contact between the mounting profiles 21, 12 in the extended position (shown in Fig. 4), which would increase the width of the overlap 6 (also shown in Fig. 6).

Fig. 6 shows a position where the second frame 20 has been pulled out from the first frame 10 to some extent. In Fig. 7, the second frame 20 is pulled out to its end position, i.e. where the inner mounting profile 21 of the second frame 20 reaches the outer mounting profile 12 of the first frame 10. For the sliding action, the first frame 10 has guiding tracks 50 on each edge profile 13 and the second frame 20 is provided with guiding rollers 51 at the rear portion of each edge profile 23. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 7, the outer mounting profile 12 is provided with two support legs, and the outer mounting profile 22 is provided with holes for attaching the outer mounting profile 22 to another supporting means, such as a front panel of a sofa as shown in Fig. 2.

The provision of the connectors 30, being placed at the top of mounting profiles 11-12, 21-22, allows the connectors 30 of the inner mounting profile 21 of the second frame 20 to be pulled out past the outer mounting profile 12 of the first frame 10, placing the connectors 30 and thereby the location for connecting the support members 40 outside of the first frame 10, completely removing the overlap 5 between support members 40 of the first and second frames 10, 20.

The support members 40 could be slats, e.g. wooden slats, or they could in some embodiments be springs, bars, etc. Preferably, the ends of the support members 40 are provided with some means for easy attachment to the connectors 30, such as through holes for receiving screws or bolts, hooks, elastic bands, etc. Although, the present invention has been described above with reference to specific embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein. Rather, the invention is limited only by the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. An extendable mattress support (1) comprising a first frame (10) having an inner mounting profile (11) and an outer mounting profile (12) arranged at a longitudinal distance from the inner mounting profile (11), and a second frame (20) having an inner mounting profile (21) and an outer mounting profile (22) arranged at a longitudinal distance from the inner mounting profile (21), wherein at least the outer mounting profile (12) of the first frame (10) and the inner mounting profile (21) of the second frame (20) are provided with a plurality of connectors (30), wherein each connector (30) is arranged at least partly longitudinally displaced from the corresponding mounting profile (12, 21).

2. The mattress support (1) according to claim 1, wherein each connector (30) is arranged to connect an associated support member (40) at a position being longitudinally displaced from the corresponding mounting profile (12, 21).

3. The mattress support (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each mounting profile (11, 12, 21, 22) is provided with a plurality of connectors (30).

4. The mattress support (1) according to any of claims 1-3, wherein the connectors (30) are configured to connect the associated support members (40) such that the support members (40) extend longitudinally between the inner and outer mounting profiles (11, 12, 21, 22) of the first and second frame (10, 20), respectively.

5. The mattress support (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting profiles (11, 12, 21, 22) are flat bar profiles.

6. The mattress support (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the connectors (30) are formed integral with the mounting profiles (11, 12, 21, 22).

7. The mattress support (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the connectors (30) are arranged at the upper end of the associated mounting profiles (11, 12, 21, 22).

8. The mattress support (1) according any one of the preceding claims, wherein each connector (30) is a plate member extending in a longitudinal direction from the corresponding mounting profile (11,12, 21, 22).

9. The mattress support (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each connector (30) is longitudinally displaced from its associated mounting profile (11, 12, 21, 22) in a direction towards the opposite mounting profile (11, 12, 21, 22) of the common frame (10, 11).

10. The mattress support (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each connector (30) is provided with one or more holes (31, 32) for allowing attachment of an associated support member (40).

11. The mattress support (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second frame (20) is slidably supported by the first frame (10) for transforming the mattress support (1) between a non-extended position and an extended position.

12. The mattress support (1) according to claim 11, wherein the non-extended position corresponds to a seat configuration, and the extended position corresponds to a bed configuration.

13. The mattress support (1) according to claim 11 or 12, wherein in the non- extended position, a connector (30) of the first frame (10) is arranged between two adjacent connectors of the second frame (20).

14. The mattress support (1) according to any of claims 10 to 12, wherein the first frame (10) is provided with at least one guiding track (51), and wherein the second frame (20) is provided with at least one guiding member, such as a roller (51), being arranged to run in said guiding track (50).

15. The mattress support (1) according to claim 14, wherein the guiding track (50) extends in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the mattress support (1), from the edge profile (13).

16. The mattress support (1) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a plurality of support members (40) extending longitudinally between the connectors (30) of the inner and outer mounting profiles (11, 12, 21, 22) of each frame (10, 20), respectively.

17. The mattress support (1) according to claim 16, wherein the support members (40) are selected from the group comprising slats, springs, or elastic bands.

18. A piece of furniture (S), comprising a mattress support (1) according to any of the preceding claims.

19. The piece of furniture according to claim 18, wherein the piece of furniture (S) is a sofa bed or an armchair.