US3049723A - Convertible bed - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 21, 1962 E. H. THlERFl-:LDER 3,049,723

CONVERTIBLE BED Filed Jan. 7, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Umm HW m

INVENT OR.

CONVERTIBLE BED 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. '7, 1959 S i n l v J .x -11 a l'I I Aug. 21, 1962 E. H. THIERFELDER CONVERTIBLE BED INVENTOR. 7&2671/3 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 7, 1959 States The present invention relates to a novel furniture structure, and more specifically to a novel bed structure.

It has frequently been found desirable, both in hotels and private homes, to provide a piece of furniture which may be converted for use as either a couch or a bed. For example, a bolster may be placed on a bed when it is desired to use the bed as a couch, which bolster may then be removed when it is desired to use the bed for sleeping. Often a problem arises as to what to do with the bolster when it is removed from the bed until it is needed again.

In many instances, it is desirable to arrange a pair Vof beds of the above discussed type toward the corner of a room and in addition, a table may be placed in the corner in a manner such that ends of the beds substantially abut the sides of the table. It will be appreciated that it may be desirable to move or adjust the beds with respect to each other and the table so as to provide either single or double bed sleeping accommodations.

It is an important object of the present invention to ,provide a novel bed structure which may be utilized in a corner grouping of the above discussed type, which structure is such that the various pieces of the corner grouping may be easily adjusted or .positioned with respect to each other to satisfy various sleeping requirements while at the same .time the various pieces are separate from each other so that they may be used independently, if desired.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a novel bed structure of the above described type wherein the bed may be readily-adjusted to and releasably locked in various dierent positions.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel bed structure including a mattress supporting frame and a bolster supporting frame, which frames may be relatively shifted so as to position the mattress supporting frame selectively at least 4partially beneath and substantially entirely out from under a bolster carried by the bolster supporting frame whereby the struc- .ture may be selectively used as a couch or a bed.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. l is a .perspective view showing a corner grouping of furniture including a pair of bed structures incorporating features of the present invention and a corner table;

FIG. 2 is a partially diagrammatic Yplan view of the corner Vgrouping shown in FIG. l and further shows one .arrangement whereby the beds may be moved or adjusted relative to each other to provide a double bed;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are similar to FIG. 2 but show additional ways in which the beds can be arranged with respect to each other and the corner table;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a base and bolster supporting frame means utilized in a bed structure incorporating features of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a mattress supporting frame means utilized in a bed structure incorporating features of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view taken generally along line 7-7 in FIG. `3;

FIG. 8 is a Vfragmentary partial Vsectional view taken generally along line 8 8 in FIG. 2;

3,@49JZ3 Patented Aug. 2l, 1962 FIG. 9 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view showing structure whereby the mattress supporting frame means is pivotally connected with the base and bolter supporting frame means;

FIG. l0 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the structure shown in FIG. 9;

FIGS. l1 and l2 are similar to FIG. l0 but respectively disclose the manner in which the mattress supporting frame may be manipulated to release the pivot so as to enable the mattress supporting frame to be shifted longitudinally;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along line 13-13 in FIG. l0;

FIG 14 is a sectional View taken along line 14-14 in FIG. l1; and

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along `line 15-15 in FIG. l2.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings wherein like parts are designated by the same numerals throughout the various figures, a bed structure 29 incorporating features of the present invention is shown, which bed structure may be used independently or in a corner grouping such as that shown in FIGS. l-4. VThis grouping includes a second bed structure which is essentially identical to the bed structure 20 as indicated by the application of identical reference numerals with the suliix a added to corresponding elements. In addition this furniture grouping may include a corner table 22 against which ends of the bed structures 20 and 20a substantially abut.

In general, the bed structure 20 is provided with a base and bolster supporting frame 24 and a mattress supporting frame 26. The stationary frame 24 comprises a pair of upstanding members 28 and 3d having horizontal arms 32 and 34 secured to and extending from their upper ends. A 'bolster 36 is secured to the arms 32 and 34. Lower ends of the upstanding members 28 and 30 are interconnected by a cross member 3S. In addition laterally extending base members 40 and 42 are welded or otherwise secured to the lower ends of the upstanding support members 28 and 30. Means 44 described in detail below is provided on the base member 42 for cooperation with an element on the mattress supporting frame structure 26 for pivotally and shiftably interconnecting the base frame and the bed or mattress supporting frame structure. In addition means 46 also described in detail below is provided adjacent the outer end of the base member 40 for releasably locking the mattress supporting frame 26 in a desired position.

As shown best in FIG. 6, the mattress supporting frame structure 26 comprises a pair of longitudinally extending opposite side frame members 48 and 50 and opposite end frame members 52 and 54. These frame members which may be in the form of angle irons and the like are bolted, riveted or otherwise suitably connected together to provide a rectangular frame adapted to support a cushion or a mattress assembly. As indicated broadly in the drawings, the cushion or mattress assembly may include a bex spring unit 56 with a mattress 5S thereon, which box spring unit is adapted to rest on inwardly directed horizontal flanges 60 and 62 of the side frame members 48 and 5t) respectively. Upstanding flanges -64 and 66 of the side frame members restrain lateral shifting of the box spring unit relative to the supporting frame structure.

In order to rigidity the mattress supporting frame structure 26, diagonal braces 68, 70, 72 and 74 are provided at the corners of the frame structure. It will be appreciated that these braces are fixed to the frame members by bolts, rivets or any other suitable means. In order to facilitate movement or adjustment of the mattress supporting frame structure 26 in the manner described in detail below, caster assemblies 76, 78, 80 and 82 are respectively secured to the diagonal braces 68-74.

As shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 9-15, a pivot pin 84 is suitably xed to the mattress supporting frame 26 at the corner thereof between the side frame member 50 and the end frame member 52, and the pin 84 depends from the mattress supporting frame 26 for cooperation with the above mentioned means 44 whereby the mattress supporting frame 26 is connected with the base frame 24 in a manner Which permits the mattress supporting frame to be shifted to the various positions shown in FIGS. 1 through 4. More specifically, the means 44 comprises an elongated angle iron 86 having a vertical flange 88 extending along and welded or otherwise secured to an upstanding ange of the base member 42. The member 86 also includes an inwardly extending horizontal ange 90 having an elongated slot 92 therein adapted to accommodate the pin 84. The outer end 94 of the slot 92 is spaced from the upstanding bolster supporting members 28 and 30 a distance as least substantially as great as the Width of the mattress supporting frame 26 so that when the pin 84 is in the slot and in engagement with the end 94 thereof the mattress supporting frame 26 may be pivoted about the axis of the pin to and from positions wherein the longitudinal axis of the frame 26 is disposed parallel to, diagonally to and perpendicularly to a vertical plane including the upstanding bolster supporting members 28 and 30. In other Words, the mattress supporting frame 26 may be moved to and from the positions shown in FIGS. l, 2 and 3.

As shown best in FIGS. 9-15, a locking plate 96 is pivotally mounted at 98 on the horizontal flange 90 of the angle iron 86 for normally retaining the pivot pin 84 substantially against the end 94 of the slot 92 so as to facilitate the above described pivotal adjustment of the mattress supporting frame 26. However, there are instances when it is desired to shift the frame 26 longitudinally toward the bolster 36 after the frame has been pivoted to the position shown in FIG. 3 so that the end of the mattress supporting frame will be positioned adjacent the bolster to enable the bolster to provide a head board for the bed. In order to permit the mattress supporting frame to be shifted longitudinally in the manner just described, means is provided for actuating the locking plate 96 so as to release the pin 84 for movement longitudinally of the slot 92 when the mattress supporting frame 26 extends substantially perpendicularly from the vertical -plane including the upstanding bolster supporting members 28 and 30 as shown in FIG. 3. This means includes a pin 100 xed to and extending upwardly from the plate member 96 at a location at a side of the pivot pin 84 opposite from the plate member pivot 98 when the pin 84 is at the end 94 of the slot. In addition an elongated bar cam 102 is fixed to the under side of the frame member 50 for engagement with the pin 100. 'I'he bar 102 is disposed so that the cam edge 104 thereof is laterally offset from the axis of the pivot pin 84 a distance substantially greater than the radius of the pivot pin 84. 'I'hus when the cam edge 104 engages the pin 100 during pivotal movement of the mattress supporting frame 26 toward the position shown in FIG. 3, the pin 100 will be shifted to a position laterally displaced from the slot 92 as shown in FIGS. 10-15. As a result, the plate member 96 will be pivoted until a locking edge 106 thereof is offset from the slot and disengaged from the pin 84. When this has been accomplished the mattress supporting frame may be shifted longitudinally inwardly or toward the bolster until such movement is arrested by engagement of the pin 84 with the inner end of the slot 92. Preferably the inner end of the slot is located so that an end of the mattress supporting frame may be located adjacent an outer margin of the bolster. A tension spring 108 is provided for returning the plate member 96 to the locking position when the mattress supporting frame 26 has been moved from the FIGS. 3 or 4 positions toward the FIGS. l and 2 positions. Thus it is necessary to provide means for maintaining the plate member 96 in the open position to permit the frame 26 to be returned from the FIG. 4 position to the FIG. 3 position. 'Ihis retaining means is provided by elongating the actuating cam bar 102 so that it extends for the full length of the slot 92.

In order to con-trol and stabilize longitudinal movement of the mattress supporting frame 26 between the positions shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a guide roller 110 is carried by a bracket 112 depending from the side frame member 50 yfor rolling contact with an inwardly facing vertical surface of either the member y86 as shown or the base member 42. In addition a similar roller 114 is carried by a bracket 116 secured to and depending from the side frame member 48 for engagement with the inwardly facing vertical surface of the base frame member 40. It will be noted that Ithe guide roller 114 is disposed substantially at the end of the side frame member 48 which is connected with the end frame member 52 so that the distance between the outwardly facing peripheral portion of the roller 114 and the axis of the pivot pin 84 is substantially equal to and not greater than the distance between the axis of the pin 84 and the inwardly facing upstanding surface of the base -frame member 40 whereby the guide roller 114 will in no way interfere with the pivotal movement of the mattress supporting frame 26. Furthermore, the guide roller is offset longitudinally of the frame 26 from both the pivot pin 84 and the guide roller 114 so that these elements provide three point engagement with portions of the base structure 24 'for providing effective control over the longitudinal movement of the mattress supporting frame.

As indicated above, means are provided on the mattress supporting frame 26 cooperable with the means 46 on the base frame structure 24 for releasably locking the mattress supporting frame in any of the positions shown in FIGS. 1 through 4. More specifically, the locking means 46 includes a locking pin 118, and the cooperable means on the frame structure 26 include aperture means 120 in the frame member 50 for receiving the pin 118 when the frame structure 26 is in the position shown in FIG. l, and Iaperture means 122 at the corner of the lfran-1e structure 26 provided by the frame members 48 and 52 for accommodating the pin 118 when the frame structure 26 is in the position shown in FIG. 3. In addition aperture means 124 is provided in an intermediate portion of the frame member -48 for accommodating the pin 118 when the yframe structure 26 is in the position shown in FIG. 4. In order to enable the frame 26 to be locked in the diagonal position shown -in FIG. 2, a bar 125 is provided between and is secured to the opposite side frame members 48 and 50, and aperture means 126 is provided at a suitable -location in the bar 125 for accommodating the locking pin 118.

The locking means 46 is constructed so that the pin 118 Will automatically snap into any of the aperture means 120, 122, 124 and 126 mentioned above when such aperture means becomes aligned with the pin. The pin 11-8 then locks the frame member 26 yagainst inadvertent movement. However, the construction of the locking means 46 is such that the pin 118 will be cammed downwardly and released Vfrom a complementary aperture means when an operator applies a predetermined force to the `frame structure 26 for accomplishing adjustment of the frame structure between any of the various positions shown in FIG. l through FIG. 4. More specifically, the pin 118 is vertically slidably disposed in aligned apertures of vertically spaced flanges 128 and 130 of bracket members 132 and 134 respectively. The bracket member 134 is welded or otherwise secured to the member 132 which in turn is welded or other-wise xed to the base frame member 40 as shown best in FIGS. 7 and 8. An annular enlargement 136 is provided on the pin 118 -beneath the upper end thereof and the ilange 128, and a compression spring 138 is provided between the enlargement 136 and the lower ange 130 for normally and resiliently supporting the pin so that the upper end thereof projects above the ange 128 lfor entry into one of the complementary aperture means. As shown best in FIG. 8, the upper exposed end 140 of the pin 118 is rounded. This feature enables the pin -to be cammed downwardly whenv engaged by an edge of the mattress supporting frame 26 as a result of the application of the above mentioned predetermined force to the frame structure 26 by an operator. Thus the pin 113 may be -automatically depressed either to permit `a portion of the frame 26 to pass lthereover until one of the complementary aperture means becomes aligned with the pin or to cause the pin to be disengaged from such aperture means. As indicated in FIG. 8, marginal portions 142 and 144 of the dlange 128 are preferably inclined downwardly so as to facilitate sliding movement of a portion of the mattress supporting lframe structure 26 over the ilange 128 Iand into or out of engagement -with the pin 118.

While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described herein, it is obvious that many structural details may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. An assembly of the `type described including stationary frame means having an upstanding portion for supporting bolster means and the like, said stationary frame means including a portion engageable with a support surface such as a oor and spaced laterally lfrom said upstanding portion for maintaining said upstanding portion in an erect position, a bed frame overlying said laterally spaced frame means portion, means between said last mentioned stationary frame means portion and a corner portion of said bed frame pivotally connecting the bed -frame with said stationary frame means for enabling the bed frame to be pivoted between first and second right angularly disposed positions and a third position disposed diagonally with respect to said rst and second positions, and cooperable means on said stationary frame means and said bed frame and ottset substantially from said connecting means for releasably locking the bed :frame in said irst, second and third positions, said connecting means including means enabling longitudinal movement of the bed frame from said second position to a fourth position and for restraining such longitudinal movement when the bed frame is in said rstand third positions.

2. An assembly, -as defined in claim 1, wherein said cooperable locking means includes means for releasably locking said bed frame in said fourth position.

3. An assembly of the type described including stationary frame means having an upstanding portion for supporting bolster means and the like, said stationary frame means including a portion spaced laterally from said upstanding portion, a bed lframe overlying said laterally spaced frame means portion, means between said last mentioned stationary frame means portion and a corner portion of said bed frame pivotally connecting the bed frame with said stationary frame means lfor enabling the bed frame to be pivoted between first and second rightyangularly disposed positions and a third position disposed diagonally with respect to said first and second positions, and cooperable means on said stationary frame means and said bed frame yand otset substantially from said connecting means `for releasably locking the bed frame in said first, second and third positions, said bed frame including first and second opposite side frame members and a transverse member extending between intermediate portions of said side frame members, said connecting means being disposed to locate the axis of pivotal movement of the bed frame vertically of and substantially in alignment with said rst side frame member, and said releasable locking means including `a resiliently biased element mounted on said stationary frame means, iirst aperture means in said rst 6 side `frame member for receiving said element when said Ibed frame is in said first position, and aperture means in said second side frame member -for receiving said element when said bed frame is in said second position, and third aperture means in said transverse member for receiving said element when said bed Iframe is in said third position.

4. An assembly, as defined in claim 3, wherein said element is provided with a rounded end and is disposed so -as to present substantial-ly only said end yfor entry into said aperture means, said rounded end permitting camming of the element `out of the aperture means upon the application of a predetermined force to the bed frame in a direction tending to move the -bed frame from one of said positions to another.

5. An assembly of the type described including stationary frame means having an upstanding portion for supporting bolster means and the like, said stationary frame means including a portion spaced laterally from said upstanding portion, a bed frame overlying said laterally spaced frame means portion, means between said last mentioned stationary -frame portion and a corner portion of rsaid bed frame pivotally connecting the bed -frame with said stationary frame means for enabling the bed frame to be pivoted between rst and second angularly disposed positions and -a third position disposed diagonally with respect to said iirst and second positions, and cooperable means on said stationary frame means and said bed frame and offset substantially from said connecting means for releasably locking said bed frame in `said rst, second and third positions, said connecting means including means enabling longitudinal movement of the bed frame from said second position to a rfourth position and -for restraining such longitudinal movement when the bed frame is in said rst .and third positions, said connecting means including a pivot pin depending from said bed frame, and said means for enabling longitudinal movement of the bed frame and for restraining such movement comprising elongated slot means in said stationary frame means portion receiving said pin, a retaining member shiftably mounted on said stationary iframe means portion and biased for engaging said pin and retaining said pin substantially against one end of said slot means, and an element on said bed frame for engaging and shifting said retaining member out of engagement with said pin when the bed frame is moved from said third position to said second position.

6. An assembly of the type described comprising stationary frame means adapted to be disposed on a oor, a substantially rectangular bed frame including first and second side frame members overlying said stationary frame means, means substantially aligned with said first side frame member -and pivotally connecting a corner portion of said bed frame with a portion of said stationary frame means for enabling the bed frame to be pivoted to and from a iirst position in which said iirst side frame member extends over a second portion of said stationary frame means and a second position extending diagonally with respect to said iirst position, and complementary means on said bed frame and said second portion for releasably locking the bed frame in said rst and second positions, said pivotal connecting means `comprising a pivot pin extending between said first stationary frame means portion and said bed frame corner portion, elongated slot means on one of said last mentioned portions receiving said pivot pin, -a shiftable retaining member engageable with said pivot pin for normally retaining the pivot pin adjacent one end of said slot means when the bed frame is in said first and second positions, and an element on one of said last mentioned portions for actuating said retaining member to release said pin when the bed frame is moved to a third position substantially perpendicular to said first position, the release of said pin by said retaining member enabling the bed frame to be shifted longitudinally to a fourth position.

7, An assembly of the type described, comprising stationary frame means including an upstanding frame portion for supporting a bolster land the like and a horizontal frame portion including a pair of oor engaging frame members spaced apart longitudinally of the upstanding frame portion and extending laterally inwardly there'om yfor supporting the same in erect position, a rectangular bed frame overlying said frame members, means providing a readily detachable pivotal connection bet-Ween said Ibed frame and one of said frame members enabling the bed fra-me to be pivoted to various positions relative to the stationary frame means, and a plurality of liloor engaging caster means connected to opposite ends 0f the bed frame for supporting the same independently of the pivot-al connection between the bedV frame Vand said one frame member, and the oor engaging caster means at the head end of the bed frame being disposed entirely between the said frame members permitting the bed frame to be moved to and from the various positions without interference between the caster means and the said frame members. Y

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Whitaker Mar. 4, Henry Oct. 7, Monger lan. 3, Bouchon Feb. 3, Frey July` 15, Harrison Oct. 12, Shankfman Mar. V5, Torre June 25, Bailey Oct. 27, Bailey Oct. 11,

FOREIGN PATENTS Sweden Aug. 23, Sweden Oct. 23, Germany Sept. 5, Austria Sept. 10, Austria Aug. 10,

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