US3048856A - Sofa bed - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 14, 1962 c. c. ANDES 3,048,856

SOFA BED Filed June 20, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 mmvron. ueqm 6. Anaes ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 14, 1962 3,048,856

C. C. ANDES SOFA BED 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 20, 1960 INVENTOR. ua-s e 6. ANDES States Uite This invention relates to a furniture structure in the nature of a combination sofa and bed and, more particularly, to such a structure usable either as a sofa or as a bed wherein the seat portion is movable relative to the back portion for effecting conversion.

It is frequently desirable, particularly in hotels, motels, apartments and the like to conserve space by having a combined sofa and bed wherein a bed portion is positioned under or with a back rest member when the device is used as a sofa, and the bed portion moved to a position spaced from the back rest when used as a bed. The mattress of the bed portion should be supported in approximately level position for sleeping comfort, but, when used as a sofa, the resiliency and level condition of the mattress result in the structure failing to provide suitable support and comfort to a seated person. Also, in moving bed portions having casters r glides, the floors frequently are marred and, if moved on rugs, excessive wear will result in the path of normal movement of the bed portion.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide a combination sofa and bed structure which overcomes the disadvantages abovementioned; to provide a convertible sofa and bed structure having a relatively stationary frame supporting the back rest and a bed portion having support for movement thereof without marring or excessively wearing floors or rugs; to provide a combination sofa and bed structure with relatively movable frame structures with movement-resisting portions to reduce possibility of unintentional displacement; to provide such a structure wherein the bed has a main frame and an auxiliary mattress-supporting frame hingedly connected thereto for up and down movement and operating mechanism to raise the forward portion of the mattress when the bed portion is moved to sofa-forming position; to provide such a structure wherein tilting of the mattress is effected automatically by moving the bed portion from bed-forming position to sofa-forming position; to provide such a structure with locking means to retain the mattress in tilted position when arranged to be utilized as a sofa; to provide a combination sofa and bed wherein the bed portion is pivoted relative to the back rest frame adjacent one end with rollers and a flexible band movably supporting the other end portion on the floor and arranged to move in an arcuate path whereby the bed portion can be swung outwardly about the pivotal connection and from the back rest in a plane substantially parallel with the floor; and to provide a combination sofa and bed structure that is attractive, compact, economical to manufacture, easily moved and comfortable when utilized either as a sofa or as a bed.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a combination sofa and bed structure in sofa position, with portions broken away to illustrate the frame structure.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the sofa and bed frame structure.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the frame structure in sofa-forming position.

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional View through the frame structure, taken on the line 4-4, FIG. 2.

3,M8,85 fi Patented Aug. 14-, 1962 FIG. 5 is an end elevation of the frame structure in bed-forming position.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the pivoted end portion of the bed frame and support, with the operating members in sofa-forming position.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the frame portions similar to FIG. 6 but turned to bed-forming position.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view through a spring balance member to aid in lifting the forward end of the auxiliary frame and mattress.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional 'view through a resilient connection between auxiliary frame operating members.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

The numeral '1 generally designates a sofa bed structure which, in the particular embodiment illustrated, includes a bed portion 2 movably mounted relative to a back rest portion 3 whereby a back rest cushion 4 is supported over a side portion of a bed mattress 5 when the structure is used as a sofa, as illustrated in FIG. 1. It is preferred that the lower edge 6 of the back rest cushion be only slightly spaced above the upper surface of a cover 7 over the bed mattress 5, the spacing being only sufficient for the bed to be moved in and out from under the back rest cushion 4. In the illustrated structure, the bed portion 2 is adapted to be swung outwardly relative to the back rest in an are about a vertical axis of a pivotal connection 8 between a stationary frame 9 and the main bed frame It the pivotal connection 8 preferably being spaced forwardly of the back rest cushion 4 a distance substantially equal to the spacing of said connection 8 from one end 11 of the main frame whereby, when the bed portion is swung through an arc of substantially degrees from the sofa position, the end 11 of the main frame is adjacent the forward surface of the back rest cushion and said cushion forms a head member for the bed. The stationary or back rest frame 9 includes a connector member 13 forming a portion of the pivotal connection 8 and fixed to said member 13 is a rearwardly extending bar 14 extending beyond the rear portion 15 of the bed frame when in sofa position, said bar 14 being connected to a longitudinally extending bar 16 which extends toward the other end 17 of the bed frame and terminates in spaced relation thereto in a forwardly extending bar 18 having a foot member 19 on the forward end thereof. At the ends of the longitudinal bar 16, there are also fittings 20 adapted to engage a floor or other support and cooperate with the member 19 and the connector member 13 in providing suitable spaced supporting members for supporting the stationary frame. The stationary frame 9 has upstanding portions which, in the illustrated structure, are posts 21 extending upwardly from the fittings 20 and termimating in forwardly extending arms 22 providing members on which the back rest cushion 4 is fixed. Also carried on the posts 21, in the illustrated structure, is a cabinet or box structure 23 located behind the back rest cushion 4 and adapted to be used for storage of bed clothing and the like. The connections for the back rest 4 and box 23 to the post 21 and arms 22 cooperate with the stationary frame frame to form a rigid structure that tends to remain in selected position until intentionally moved.

The mainrbed frame 10 includes longitudinal rails 24 and 245 and transverse end rails 26 and 27 and generally transverse members 28, 2,9, 30 and 31, or other conventional bracing, as desired, to form a rigid structure. The main bed frame 10 is preferably arranged with the longitudinal rail 25 as the rearward rail positioned under the back rest when in sofa position. The main bed frame is provided with rollers or casters 32 and 33 preferably supported on legs 34 and 34 respectively secured to and depending from the transverse frame member 29 whereby the rollers or casters engage the floor or floor covering to movably support the main frame adjacent the end 11 thereof. The other end portion of the main bed frame is movably supported on the floor or floor covering by a wide band or belt 35 operatively engaged over spaced pulleys or rollers 36 and 37 rotatably mounted on bearing members 38 secured in depending relation to the transverse members 3t} and 31. It is desired to swing the bed frame in an arouate path whereby it moves substantially in a plane parallel to the floor about the vertical axis of the connector 8 and, to facilitate such movement, the axes of the rollers 36 and 37 are in angular relation and converge whereby they intersect at the vertical axis of the connector 3. The belt and roller supporting structure may be motorized to drive the belt 35 with the roller and belt and drive assembly being constructed substantially as illustrated and described in the Andes Patent No. 2,781,524 issued February 19, 1957. If it is desired that the movement of the bed be manual, the motor may be omitted and, by applying force to the main bed frame remote from the pivotal connection 8, the bed portion may be swung in an arc with the rollers 36 and C17 and a belt thereon serving as the movable support having substantial contacting area with the floor or floor covering, causing little, if any, wear on the fioor covering.

The pivotal connector 8 includes a member 39 secured to a frame member 49 fixed on the transverse members 28 and 29 whereby the connector member 39 depends therefrom and engages the upper surface of the connector member 13. When the connector members 13 and 39 are pivotally engaged, they provide a support for that portion of the main bed frame whereby the caster or roller 32 has slight clearance above the floor covering, and the main bed frame is supported by the connector 8, caster 33 and roller and belt assembly adjacent the other end of the bed frame for movement of the bed frame to and from sofa-making position.

The mattress portion of the bed is supported on the main frame for tilting movement whereby it is inclined downwardly from the forward side toward the back rest when in sofa position. In the illustrated structure, the mattress is carried by an auxiliary frame 41 having forward and rearward longitudinal rails 42 and 43 respectively and transverse end rails 44 and 45, said auxiliary frame 41 being hingedly supported on the main frame for up and down movement of the forward side relative to said main frame. In the illustrated structure, the rearward rails and 43 of the main frame and auxiliary frame respectively are connected by hinge members 46 which consist of two hinge members spaced longitudinally of said rail members, with the auxiliary frame spaced above the main frame whereby the auxiliary frame will be level when in bed-forming position, the spacing accommodating portions 47 of raising members at the forward side of the bed. In the illustrated structure, the forward rail 42 rests on raising portions or rollers 47 mounted on spaced arms 48 which are fixed on shafts 49 and 5t) spaced longitudinally of the bed frame and extending transversely thereof, said shafts 49 and 56 being rotatably mounted on the main frame for axial rotation. The shafts 49 and 50 each have depending arms 51 fixed thereon with their lower ends connected by a rigid link 52 to simultaneously rotate the shafts 49 and 50' and swing the arms 48 thereon. The arms 48- are movable and, in the limit of movement in one direc tion, the rollers 47 rest on the upper surface of the main bed frame rail 24 in bed-forming position. In sofaforming position, the arms 48 are swung up and slightly beyond an upright center position whereby the weight of the mattress and/or person thereon tends to cause the arms to continue to swing in a counter-clockwise direction (FIG. 3), but such additional movement is limited as the position of the arms 51 and the link 52 is such that continued counter-clockwise movement tends to raise the link 52. toward the bed frame and, in the raised position of the auxiliary frame, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the link 52 engages a stop member 53 fixed on the transverse frame member 28 and depending therefrom. The stop member 53 limits further movement of the link and anti-clockwise swinging movement of the arms 48 from the position slightly past upright as illustrated in FIG. 3.

The movement of the link 52 and the connected shafts 49 and 5t and arms 48 could be performed manually, however, it is preferred that it be accomplished automatically in response to swinging movement of the bed 2 around the axis of the pivotal connection 8. An operating arm 54 has one end 55 pivotally mounted on the main bed frame rail 25 for swinging movement about a vertical axis of a mounting member 56, the operating arm 54 normally extending substantially transversely of the main bed frame lti. The other end 57 of said operating arm is pivotally and slidably connected to the link 52. The end 57 of the arm 54 is pivotally connected by a suitable fastening device 58 to a slide member 59 carried by the link 52 and, in the illustrated structure, the link 52 is tubular with the slide member slidably mounted therein and the fastening device 53 extending through a slot 6%) arranged longitudinally of said link 52. A resilient member such as a spring 61 is mounted in the link 52 with one end engaging an abutment 62 fixed to said link and the other end engaging a follower 63 positioned between the spring 61 and the slide member 59. In normal position with the bed portion in bed position, the fastening device 58 of the arm 54 is positioned adjacent the end 64 of the slot at, and the spring 1 is under slight or no compression whereby the weight of the mattress 5 and auxiliary frame will hold the mattress and auxiliary frame in its lowered position with the rollers 47 between and engaging the rails 24 and 42 of the main frame and auxiliary frame.

A counterbalance structure 65 is mounted on the link 52 with one portion engaging the main frame It) as, for example, the transverse member 29, to urge movement of the link and through its connections the arms 48 to mattress raising position. In the illustrated structure, the counterbalance s5 is a substantially tubular housing 66 fixed by a bracket 67 on the link 52 with a plunger 68 slidably mounted in said housing and having an end extending therefrom. A resilient member such as a spring 69 is sleeved on the plunger with one end of the spring engaging an end wall 761 of the housing and the other end of the spring engaging an abutment 71 to urge the plunger from the end 72 of the housing whereby the end 73 of said plunger engages the main bed frame transverse member 29 and the spring 69 in the counterbalance provides a force slightly less than that required to lift the mattress and auxiliary frame to raise same to tilted position, so that in bed position the mattress will remain horizontal but only a small force is required to lift same to tilt position for sofa-forming position.

The operating arm 54 has an abutment 74 preferably fixed thereto and depending therefrom and adapted to engage a stop member 75 fixed on the stationary frame. In the illustrated structure, the stop member 75 is in the form of a hook and is fixed on the stationary frame bar member 14, and the abutment member 74 extends downwardly from the operating arm 54 in a position to engage the stop member during a portion of the swinging movement of the bed to sofa position. The abutment 74 and stop 75 preferably are arranged near the end of the operating arm 54 adjacent the link 52 whereby when the bed extends from the back rest at approximately 30 degrees included angle, the abutment will move over the nose 76 of the hook member 75 and the engagement thereof is such that further movement of the abutment in response to pivotal movement of the bed to swing same to sofa position applies a force to the operating arms 54, slide member 59 and through the spring 61 to the link 52, tending to rotate the shafts 49 and 50 and swing the arms 48 upwardly in an anticlockwise direction (FIG. 3) to start to raise the forward portion of the auxiliary frame and mattress. If a person or other weight is on the mattress during such movement, the spring 61 is compressed whereby the bed portion can be moved into sofa position, but the weight or person on the mattress overcoming the pressure of the spring 61 and spring 69 will retain the mattress in horizontal position. As soon as the weight is removed, the spring 61 will move the link and apply force more than sufiicient to raise the mattress and auxiliary frame, swinging the arms 48 upwardly to an upright position and then slightly past until the link 52 engages the stop 53 whereby the arms 48 retain the auxiliary frame and mattress in tilted position to serve as a sofa. The hook shape and engagement of the nose '76 thereof with the abutment 74- tends to retain the operating mechanism in mattress-raising position whereby change of pressure of persons sitting and rising from the sofa will not alter the position of the operating mechanism, or move the link 52 from engagement with the abutment 53. When it is desired to position the structure for use as a bed, the end of the bed frame remote from the pivotal mounting 8 is grasped and force applied to swing same away from the back rest 5. As such swinging movement is started, the abutment member 74 is retained in engagement with the stop 75 providing relative movement between the operating arm 54 and the main bed frame which shifts the link 52; to rotate the shafts 49 and 5t and the arms 48 thereon in a clockwise direction (FIG. 3) whereby the arms 48 move by center or upright position and continued swinging movement of the bed will allow the auxiliary frame and mattress to be lowered to a level position when the bed frame is at approximately 30 degrees relative to the back rest. Further swinging movement of the bed frame to increased angular relationship with the back rest does not alter the horizontal position of the auxiliary frame and mattress.

With the structure assembled and operated as illustrated and described, the mattress is tilted in sofa position in response to swinging movement of the bed frame, and, even though weight is applied to hold the mattress in horizontal position as the bed is moved to sofa position, there is no damage to the operating structure and, when the weight is removed, the operating structure, through the resilient forces applied thereto, will automatically raise the mattress and the auxiliary frame supporting same to the inclined position and lock same whereby the weight of a number of persons sitting thereon will be adequately supported. Also, the bed may be moved to and from its various positions with little or no wear to floor or floor covering over which it operates.

It is to be understod that while I have illustrated and described one form of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown except insofar as such limitations are included in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A combination sofa and bed comprising, a stationary frame adapted to rest on a floor, a bed frame, means including a pivotal connection of the bed frame and stationary frame for supporting one end of said bed frame for pivotal movement about a vertical axis adjacent said one end, a mattress carried by said bed frame, a back rest in overlying relation to a portion of one side of said bed mattress when in sofa-forming position, means movably supporting the other end of the bed frame for swinging movement about said vertical axis, an auxiliary frame hingedly mounted on the bed frame adjacent the back rest with the auxiliary frame overlying the bed frame whereby the side of the auxiliary frame remote from the back rest is movable upwardly from a horizontal position of said auxiliary frame to a position downwardly inclined fro-m said remote side toward send back rest when in sofa-forming position, spaced arms pivotally mounted on the bed frame adjacent the side remote from the back rest with portions of said arms extending along the bed frame when in bed-forming position, means on said portions remote from the pivotal mountings of said arms for engaging said auxiliary frame whereby swinging movement of said arms moving said portions upwardly and slightly beyond upright position raises the side of the auxiliary frame remote from the back rest, a rigid link connecting said arms for simultaneous swinging movement thereof, a lever arm having one end portion pivotally mounted on the bed frame adjacent the back rest, means connecting the other end of said lever arm to said link, stop means on the bed frame for limiting swinging movement of said arms in sofa-forming position whereby weight of the mattress and auxiliary frame cooperate with the stop means to normally retain the auxiliary frame in inclined position when in sofa-forming position, and cooperative means on the lever arm and stationary frame engageable during a portion of the movement of the bed frame from bedforming position to sofa-forming position for effecting relative movement of the lever arm and bed frame to move the link and swing said arms for raising and lowering said auxiliary frame in response to swinging movement of the bed frame to and from sofa-forming position.

2. A combination sofa and bed comprising, a stationary frame adapted to rest on a floor, a bed frame, means including a pivotal connection of the bed frame and stationary frame for supporting one end of said bed frame for pivotal movement about a vertical axis adjacent said one end, a mattress carried by said bed frame, a back rest in overlying relation to a portion of one side of said bed mattress when in sofa-forming position, spaced elongate rollers under the bed frame adjacent the other end thereof with the axes of said rollers converging at an acute angle to a point on said vertical axis, an endless flexible band extending around and operatively engaged with said spaced rollers, means rotatably mounting said spaced rollers on the bed frame whereby the lower run of the band engages the floor on which the bed is movable, the spacing of the rollers being such that the band thereon operates to maintain the bed frame in substantially level condition, an auxiliary frame hingedly mounted on the bed frame adjacent the back rest with the auxiliary frame overlying the bed frame whereby the side of the auxiliary frame remote from the back rest is movable upwardly from a horizontal position of said auxiliary frame to a position downwardly inclined from said remote side toward said back rest when in sofa-forming position, spaced arms pivotally mounted on the bed frame adjacent the side remote from the back rest with portions of said arms extending along the bed frame when in bed-forming position, means on said portions remote from the pivotal mountings of said arms for engaging said auxiliary frame whereby swinging movement of said arms moving said portions upwardly and slightly beyond upright position raises the side of the auxiliary frame remote from the back rest, a rigid link connecting said arms for simultaneous swinging movement thereof, a lever arm having one end portion pivotally mounted on the bed frame, means slidably connecting the other end of said lever arm to said link, resilient means operative between the said other end of said lever arm and said link biasing the link toward auxiliary frame raising position, stop means on the bed frame for limiting swinging movement of said arms in sofa-forming position whereby weight of the mattress and auxiliary frame cooperate with the stop means to normally retain the auxiliary frame in inclined position when in sofa-forming position, and cooperative means on the lever arm and stationary frame engageable during a portion of the movement of the bed frame from bedforming position to sofa-forming position for effecting relative movement of the lever arm and bed frame to move the link and swing said arms for raising and lowering said auxiliary frame in response to swinging movement of the bed frame to and from sofa-forming position.

3. A combination sofa and bed comprising, a stationary frame adapted to rest on a floor and having an upstanding portion, a bed frame, means including a pivotal connection of the bed frame and stationary frame for supporting one end of said bed frame for pivotal movement about a verical axis adjacent said one end and spaced transversely of the bed from said upstanding portion when the bed is in one position to form a sofa, a mattress carried by said bed frame, a back rest carried by said upstanding portion and extending therefrom in overlying relation to a portion of one side of said bed mattress when in sofa-forming position, spaced elongate rollers under the bed frame adjacent the other end thereof with the axes of said rollers converging at an acute angle to a point on said vertical axis, an endless flexible band extending around and operatively engaged with said spaced rollers, means rotatably mounting said spaced rollers on the bed frame whereby the lower run of the band engages the floor on which the bed is movable, the spacing of the rollers being such that the band thereon operates to maintain the bed frame in substantially level condition, an auxiliary frame hingedly mounted on the bed frame adjacent the back rest with the auxiliary frame overlying the bed frame whereby the side of the auxiliary frame remote from the back rest is movable upwardly from a horizontal position of said auxiliary frame to a position downwardly inclined from said remote side toward said back rest when in sofa-forming position, spaced arms pivotally mounted on the bed frame adjacent the side remote from the back rest with portions of said arms extending along the bed frame when in bed-forming position, means on said portions remote from the pivotal mountings of said arms for engaging said auxiliary frame whereby swinging movement of said arms moving said portions upwardly and slightly beyond upright position raises the side of the auxiliary frame remote from the back rest, a rigid link connecting said arms for simultaneous swinging movement thereof, a lever arm having one end portion pivotally mounted on the bed frame adjacent the back rest, means slidably connecting the other end of said lever arm to said link, resilient means operative between the said other end of said lever arm and said link biasing the link toward auxiliary frame raising position, stop means on the bed frame for limiting swinging movement of said arms in sofa-forming position whereby weight of the mattress and auxiliary frame cooperate with the stop means to normally retain the auxiliary frame in inclined position when in sofa-forming position, resilient means between the bed frame and link biasing the link toward auxiliary frame raising position applying a force to the link lesser than that required for raising the auxiliary frame and mattress to reduce the force necessary to raise said auxiliary frame, and cooperative means on the lever arm and stationary frame engageable during a portion of the movement of the bed frame from bed-forming position to sofa-forming position for effecting relative movement of the lever arm and bed frame to move the link and swing said arms for raising and lowering said auxiliary frame in response to swinging movement of the bed frame to and from sofa-forming position.

4. A combination sofa and bed comprising, a stationary frame adapted to rest on a floor, a bed frame, means including a pivotal connection of the bed frame and stationary frame for supporting one end of said bed frame for pivotal movement about a vertical axis adjacent said one end, a mattress carriedrby said bed frame, means t3 movably supporting the other end of the bed frame for swinging movement of the bed frame about said vertical axis, an auxiliary frame hingedly mounted on the bed frame adjacent one side and swingable up and down whereby the side remote from said one side is movable upwardly from a horizontal position to a position downwardly inclined toward said one side when in sofa-forming position, spaced arms on said bed frame and operatively engaged with said auxiliary frame for effecting said up and down swinging movement of the auxiliary frame, a rigid link connecting said arms for simultaneous movement thereof, a lever arm having one end portion pivotally mounted on the bed frame adjacent said one side, means connecting the other end of said lever arm to said link, stop means on the bed frame for limiting movement of said arms in sofa-forming position whereby weight of the mattres and auxiliary frame cooperate with the stop means to normally retain the auxiliary frame in inclined position when in sofa-forming position, and cooperative means on the lever arm and stationary frame engageable during a portion of the movement of the bed frame from bed-forming position to sofa-forming position for effecting relative movement of the lever arm and bed frame to move the link and said arms for raising and lowering said auxiliary frame in response to swinging movement of the bed frame to and from sofa-forming position.

5. A combination sofa and bed comprising, a stationary frame adapted to rest on a floor, a bed frame, means including a pivotal connection of the bed frame and stationary frame for supporting one end of said bed frame for pivotal movement about a vertical axis adjacent said one end, a mattress carried by said bed frame, means movably supporting the other end of the bed frame for swinging movement of the bed frame about said vertical axis, an auxiliary frame hingedly mounted on the bed frame adjacent one side and swingable up and down whereby the side remote from said one side is movable upwardly from a horizontal position to a position downwardly inclined toward said one side when in sofa-forming position, spaced arms pivotally mounted on the bed frame adjacent the said side remote from said one side with portions of said arms extending along the bed frame when in bed-forming position, means on said portions remote from the pivotal mounting of said arms for engaging said auxiliary frame whereby swinging movement of said arms moves said portions upwardly and slightly beyond upright position and raises the side of the auxiliary frame remote from said one side, a rigid link connecting said arms for simultaneous swinging movement thereof, a lever arm having one end portion pivotally mounted on the bed frame, means slidably connecting the other end of said lever arm to said link, resilient means operative between the said other end of said lever arm and said link biasing the link toward auxiliary frameraising position, and cooperative means on the lever arm and stationary frame engageable during a portion of the movement of the bed frame from bed-forming position to sofa-forming position for effecting relative movement of the lever arm and bed frame to move the link and swing said arms for raising and lowering said auxiliary frame in response to swinging movement of the bed frame to and from sofa-forming position.

References (Zited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 908,085 Freschl Dec. 29, 1908 2,134,135 Lefeure Oct. 25, 1938 2,691,174 Harrison Oct. 12, 1954 2,781,524 Andes Feb. 19, 1957 2,937,383 Rehfeld May 24, 1960 2,955,297 Bailey Oct. 11, 1960

Images