US3114155A - Convertible bed and couch - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 17, 1963 w. P. BRENTON, JR 3,114,155

CONVERTIBLE BED AND coucn Filed May 16, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. WILLIAM P. BRENTON, JR.

ATTORNEY Dec. 17, 1963 w, P. BRENTON, JR

CONVERTIBLE BED AND COUCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 16, 1961 FIG.6

INVEN'TOR. BRENTON,JR.

WILLIAM P.

ATTORNEY Dec. 17, 1963 'w, BRENTON, JR 3,114,155

CONVERTIBLE BED AND COUCH Filed May 16, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN TOR. WILLIAM F? BRENTON, JR.

ATTOR NEY United States Patent 3,114,155 CONVERTIBLE BED AND COUCH Wiiiiam P. Brenton, lira, Santa Ana, Caiif., assignor of thirty-three and one-third percent to Robert L. Griffiths, and thirty-three and one-third percent to Edwin E. Larson, both of Tustin, and thirty-three and one-third percent to Donald P. McIntosh, Santa Ana, Calif.

Filed May 16, 1961, Ser. No. 110,424 6 Claims. (Cl. -17) This invention relates to an apparatus which may be employed as a couch (lounge, sofa, davenport) during the day and as a bed at night, and also to a novel linkage system incorporated in such apparatus.

An object of the present invention is to provide a convertible bed and couch which is simple and economical to manufacture and use, and which is reliable and rugged in operation.

Another object is to provide a bed-couch apparatus which may be moved from the daytime position to the nighttime position in one smooth, continuous and simple operation, there being no need for separate release of a latch, or for lifting of a backrest element.

Another object is to provide a combination bed and couch wherein the mattress and frame portion will not creep away from the backrest or headboard in either the daytime or nighttime position, regardless of substantial pressure exerted by the occupant while sitting or lying on the mattress.

Another object is to provide a combination bed and couch which is completely independent of any other item of furniture, such as a night stand.

Another object is to provide a combination bed and couch which requires relatively little floor space, even when being shifted between its daytime and nighttime positions, and which may be designed for a wide variety of furniture arrangements and positions in a room.

Another object is to provide a combination bed and couch which may be moved out of a corner to a position perpendicular to one of the walls forming the corner, thus greatly increasing the number of floor arrangements into which the bed-couch may be incorporated.

Another object is to provide a combination bed and couch in which the combination bolster and backrest is also employed as the headboard.

Another object is to provide a combination bolster, backrest and headboard which may be in closed position throughout the night, and which is so related to a bed and the linkage system therefor that it serves as a headboard during the night and as a backrest during the day.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully set forth in the following specification and claims, considered in connection with the attached drawings to which they relate.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating a combination bed and couch, constructed in accordance with the present invention, in the position assumed during the daytime;

FIGURE 2 is a corresponding perspective view illustrating the bed and couch in its nighttime position;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the frame of the apparatus, in the daytime position;

FIGURE 4 is a schematic plan view illustrating the positions of the individual link elements during pivoting of the bed out of a corner to a position perpendicular to one of the walls which forms the corner;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating the manner of pivotally connecting each link to the frame of the apparatus;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional View illustrating the manner of pivotaily connecting each link to the wall, and

ice

indicating how the link may be lifted off the pivot therefor for cleaning purposes;

FIGURE 7 is a schematic plan view corresponding generally to FIGURE 4 but indicating a reverse arrangement by which the bed may be pivoted away from a night stand to a position perpendicular to the wall against which the night stand is disposed;

FIGURE 8 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the automatic latch and pull-strap portion of the apparatus;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View illustrating the operation of the latch and pull strap; and

FIGURE 10 is a horizontal sectional View taken on line 10-415 of FIGURE 9.

Referring to the drawings, the bed and couch apparatus includes a combination bolster and backrest element 10 which also serves as a headboard. This element is fixedly mounted on one wall 11 of the room in which the bed and couch is disposed, at a position determined by the furniture arrangement in the room. The elevation of the combination bolster and backrest is such that the bed may be moved therebeneath with only a small amount of clearance. Element 11 may be formed with a rectangular frame portion 12 adapted to receive pillows, blankets, etc., and with a cushioned front portion or door 13 which is hingedly connected to frame 12 for upward pivotal movement to permit storing and removal of the pillows and the like.

The projection from wall 11 of the combination bolster, backrest and headboard is such that door 13 will support the back of a person sitting on the bed when in its daytime position, shown in FIGURE 1. In addition, the projection from the wall is such that the front face of door 13 will be substantially flush with the head edge of the bed when in its nighttime position, as shown in FIG- URE 2. The door 13 may have a suflicient vertical dimension, and be disposed sufliciently far from the wall, that a person sitting on the apparatus (FIGURE 1) will be comfortable.

The combination bed and couch further comprises a suitable horizontal frame 15 adapted to support a box spring-inner spring mattress combination '16, thus forming the bed portion 19 of the apparatus. The illustrated frame 15 is formed of suitable wooden members 17. It is supported on four casters 18 disposed at the corners, and which are preferably of a type adapted to move readily over carpeting. For example, the casters may be of generally spherical construction, or may be elongated rollers.

It is a highly important feature of the invention that the bed 19 (including the frame 15 and spring-mattress combination 16) is associated with the wall 11, or the floor or other suitable fixed support, by means of horizontal links 21 and 22. Link- 21 will be termed the head link since it is adjacent the head H of bed 19 when the bed is in its daytime position. Conversely, link 22 will be termed the foot link since it is relatively adjacent the foot F of the bed when in its daytime position.

The head link 21 is pivotally connected to wall 11 at a pivot 23 which is adjacent the head end of the bed when the bed is in the daytime position of FIGURE 1. From pivot 23, link 21 extends generally perpendicularly to wall 11 (when the bed is in the daytime position) and pivotally connects to frame 15 at a pivot 24 which is also adjacent the head end of the bed and which is spaced a substantial distance from pivot 23. Pivot 24 is shown as being disposed on the opposite side of the center longitudinal axis of the bed from pivot 23, when the bed is in the daytime position.

The foot link 22, is pivotally connected to wall 11 at a pivot 26 which is spaced a substantial distance from pivot 23 but which is also illustrated as spaced a substantial distance from the foot of the bed (daytime position). The other or free end of link 22 is pivoted to the frame 15 at a pivot 27 located relatively adjacent pivot 23, again when the bed is in its daytime position. Thus, when the bed is in the daytime position illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 3 and in solid lines in FIGURE 4, the link 22 is transverse, normally generally perpendicular, to the link 21 and extends toward the link 21 from base pivot 26. At such a time, link 22 is generally parallel to Wall 11.

Upon shifting of the bed to its nighttime position, shown in FIGURE 2 and in dashed lines in FIGURE 4, the foot link 22 moves in one direction from the position generally parallel to wall 11 to a position generally perpendicular thereto. However, the head link 21 does not shift to a position parallel to wall 11 but instead moves to a position transverse or oblique thereto. When the bed is in an intermediate position, shown in phantom lines in FIGURE 4, the foot link 22 is in an intermediate position but the head link 21 is not in an intermediate position. Thus, the head link 21 moves in two directions during the single smooth shifting or rolling of the bed from the daytime to the nighttime position.

The described quadrilateral linkage system, which includes as links not only the elements 21 and 22 but also the wall 11 and the bed frame 15, produces a surprising number of advantages in addition to simplicity and economy of manufacture, installation and operation. When the bed is in the daytime position, the link 21 is perpendicular to wall 11. It therefore prevents the bed from moving forwardly from beneath bolster to due to the pressure exerted by the back of the user against the cushioned door 13. In this regard, the link 21 cooperates with a combination latch and pull apparatus 2? which is disposed adjacent the foot end of the bed and which will be described subsequently relative to FIGURES 840.

After the bed has been shifted to its nighttime position, by employing the latch and pull apparatus 29, the foot link 22 is operable :to prevent the bed from sliding forwardly from bolster due to pressure exerted on the cushioned door 13 by the occupant of the bed. It is pointed out that the head link 21 is also operable to prevent or minimize such action since it is relatively perpendicular to Wall 11 instead of being parallel thereto, this being because the link 21 moves in two directions during shifting of the bed.

When the bed is in the nighttime position it is centered relative to the bolster 1t), and substantially flush with the forward face thereof, so that the bolster serves as an attractive and useful headboard. Furthermore, and very importantly, the bed is perpendicular to the wall, which is the normal arrangement for beds in a room and which is to be contrasted from the oblique and disconcerting bed arrangements which result from conventional bedcouch constructions of the type in which the mattress is always horizontal and not folded. It is emphasized that the users of the present apparatus face in the same direction during the day as during the night, so that viewing of television is greatly facilitated.

The operation of the linkage is such that the foot F of the bed may be disposed close to a corner or to an object of furniture. Thus, a second wall 31 is indicated in FIG- URE 4, being spaced only a fed inches from the foot end of the bed when the latter is in its daytime position. Despite this extremely small clearance, the bed may be pulled out of a corner to the desirable perpendicular relationship relative to the wall 11. It is to be understood that the bolster 10 may be extended clear to Wall 31.

Referring to FIGURE 7, an embodiment is illustrated wherein the foot of the bed is disposed closely adjacent a night stand, indicated at 32. It is emphasized that this night stand may be of any desired construction, either economical or costly, since it is not necessary to operation of the bed. When the apparatus is in the daytime position, the foot of the bed is close to the night stand, as is one end of the bolster ltta. After pivoting to the nighttime position, the bed is centered beneath the bolster 10a and is spaced a desirable distance from the night stand.

The links illustrated in FIGURE 7 are longer than those illustrated in FIGURES 1-4, and are denoted by the same numbers except followed by the letter a in each instance. It is pointed out that, with relation to both the illustrated embodiments, the links and pivotal connections are completely concealed by the bed when it is in its daytime position. Even when the bed is in the nighttime position, the links may be concealed by the bolster It; as illustrated in FIGURE 4.

Referring next to FIGURE 5, each of the links may be pivotally connected to a frame member 17 in the illustrated simple and economical manner. For example, an angle bracket 33 may be screwed to a member 17, a pivot pin 34 may be welded in the horizontal flange of the angle bracket, and a cotter pin 35 may be used to maintain the link 21 (or 22) adjacent and beneath such horizontal flange.

Referring to FIGURE 6, a similar means may be employed to secure each link to wall 11. Thus, an angle bracket is shown at 37 as being screwed tothe wall, and an upwardly projecting pivot pin 38 is welded to the horizontal flange of the angle bracket and extends through an opening in link 21 (or 22). With the described construction, the link 21 may be readily lifted off the pin 38 to permit cleaning of the floor beneath the links and beneath the bolster.

It is within the scope of the invention to connect to each other the angle brackets 37 for pivots 23 and 26, for example by making them integral with an elongated angle element. Such elongated element insures that the base points of the linkage will be properly disposed when the apparatus is secured to wall 11. Furthermore, such an element insures that the screws which secure the apparatus to the Wall may always be anchored in the stud portions thereof.

Referring next to FIGURES 8l0, the above-indicated latch and pull apparatus 29 is provided at the foot end of the bed, in both of the illustrated embodiments. Such apparatus is illustrated to comprise a resilient metal element 41 which is bent into generally a U-shape, and which is skewed in order to permit insertion of screws 42 which secure it to a frame member 17.

The free end of the U-shaped element 41 is bent into triangular configuration, having an outer bevel face 43 adapted to ride up a beveled cam surface 44 of a-latch plate 46. The latch plate 46 has a flange 47 which is secured by screws 48 to the wall 11, as best indicated in FIGURE 9. The latch plate also has a rectangular opening 49 into which the triangular portion of element 41 snaps after the face 43 has ridden up surface 44.

It is to be understood that the free position of resilient element 41 is the one shown in solid lines in FIGURE 9. A deformed position is shown in dashed lines therein, the result being that the outer triangular portion of the U-element will snap downwardly into opening 49 as soon as the bed has been moved from its night position to its position adjacent the wall. It is also to be understood that the portion of latch plate 46 between opening 49 and wall 11 serves to prevent the bed 19 from being pushed excessively close to the wall and marring the same.

A strap 51, formed of a suitable highly flexible material, is connected to a lug 52 which extends through opening 4-9 and is integral with the triangularly-bent free end of U-element 4i. Strap 51 extends upwardly over the foot portion of the bed, and has at its outer end a ring 53 adapted to be grasped by the user of the apparatus.

With the described construction, the user merely grasps the ring 53, when the bed is in the daytime position (FIGURE 1), and pulls thereon in a direction away from Wall 11- This puPling action is transmitted to the flexible U-clement it, thus pulling the triangular end thereof upwardly out of opening 49 and releasing the latch. Continued pulling causes 90-deg'ree turning of bed 19 away from wall 1 until it is perpendicular thereto as shown PEGURE 2. Thus, in one continuous and simple pullmg operation, the bed is moved from a fixedly-latched position parallel to the wall to a desired position perpendicular to the wall.

As a specific example of one specific bed-couch construction, which is given by way of illustration and not limitation, reference is made to the embodiment of PI- URES l-4. The bolster of such embodiment may be forty-seven and three-quarters inches long and may project eleven and three-quarters inches from the Wall. The bolster is disposed at a suiiicient elevation that there is a slight clearance between its lower surface and the upper surface of bed 19.

The box spring-mattress combination 16 may be thirtyeight inches wide by seventy-four inches long, and is initially disposed so that the head end thereof is flush with one end of the bolster, as illustrated in solid lines in FIGURES l and 4. The link 21 may be twenty-one and three-eighths inches between the two vertical pivot axes of elements 23 and 24, whereas link 22 may be twenty-five and one-quarter inches between thevertical pivot axes of elements 26 and 27. The distance betweenthe vertical pivot axes of elements 23 and 26 may be thirty-seven and one-half inches.

Each of the frame members 17 may be one and threequarters inches square. The frame is thirty-six inches wide by seventy-two inches long, outside measurements. There may be one and one-half inches clearance between wall 11 and the vertical face of the frame 15 which is nearest to wall 11 (when the frame is in its daytime position).

The vertical axis of pivot element 27 may be threequarters inch from the adjacent vertical face of the frame member 17 on which it is mounted. The vertical pivot axisoi element 2 is spaced three-quarters inch from the inner vertical face of the associated frame element 17. Each of the vertical pivot axes of elements 23 and 26 may be one and one-quarter inches from wall 11. The vertical pivot axes of elements 2.3 and 24 lie along a line perpendicular to wall 11, when the bed is in daytime position.

It is to be understood that the specification and the claims have been written, for purposes of simplicity, on the assumption that the individual links are straight and that the ends thereof are located at or near the pivotal connection points. The claims likewise apply, however, to constructions in which the links are bent, tortuous, or any shape which does not interfere with the specified movements, the primary factor being the location of the pivot points. Similarly, the claims may not be avoided by extending the links beyond the pivot points.

Although the present specification has been written on the assumption that a separate frame 15 is provided beneath the box spring and mattress combination, it is to be understood that the casters and links may be connected directly to the box spring, or any corresponding structure. Thus, the frame 15 may be eliminated.

Although certain claims recite the links and/ or backrestheadboard as being connected to or mounted on the wall, they may (as previously indicated) be connected to the floor near the wall. The links, and also the combination backrest and headboard, may also be connected to a suit- :able piece of furniture, whether or not it is located near or connected to the wall. It is advantageous to connect both the links and the backrest-headboard to a single unitary frame adapted to stand alone, particularly for display purposes, and which may (if desired) be anchored to the wall or to the floor near the wall. The claims are to be interpreted as covering these various situations.

Various embodiments of the present invention, in addition to what has been illustrated and described in detail, may be employed without departing from the scope of the accompanying claims.

1 claim:

1. A convertible bed and couch, comprising a fulllength tin-jointed bed disposed at all times in a horizontal plane and adapted to be moved horizontally from a daytime position parallel and adjacent one wall of a room a nighttime position perpendicular to said one wall, a first horizontal link pivotally connected to said Wall and to said bed, one end of said first horizontal link being pivotally connected to said wall adjacent one end of said bed when said bed is in said daytime position, said link extending generally perpendicular to said wall when said bed is in said daytime position and having its other end pivotally connected to said bed at a point spaced a substantial distance from said wall, a second horizontal link pivotally connected to said wall and to said bed, one end of said second horizontal link being pivotally connected to said wall at a point spaced. a substantial distance from said one end of said first horizontal link and being adjacent said bed when said bed is in said daytime position, the other end of said second horizontal link being pivotally connected to said bed at a point which is relatively adjacent said one end of said first horizontal link when said bed is in said daytime position.

2. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said second horizontal link extends generally parallel to said wall wt en said bed is in said daytime position.

3. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said other end of said first link is disposed on the opposite side of the longitudinal axis of said bed from said one end of said first link, when said bed is in said daytime position, and in which said one end of said second link is disposed between the head and foot ends of said bed when said bed is in said daytime position.

4. The invention as claimed in claim 3, in which a combination headboard and backrest is fixedly mounted on said wall of said room and has its lower portion disposed a slight distance higher than the upper surface of said bed whereby a portion of said bed may be disposed therebeneath when said bed is in said daytime position, said headboard and backrest extending sufiiciently far from said wall to serve as a backrest when said bed is in said daytime position, said headboard and backrest extending sufiiciently far from said wall to serve as the headboard of said bed when said bed is in said nightime position.

5. The invention as claimed in claim 4, in which said headboard and backrest is correlated to said links in such manner that the front face of said headboard and backrest is generally flush with one end of said bed when said bed is in said nighttime position.

6. The invention as claimed in claim 3, in which one end of said bed and one end of said headboard and backrest are substantially flush when said bed is in said daytime position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 616,624 Leidich Dec. 27, 1898 1,062,261 Smith et al May 20, 1913 1,604,201 Sheets Oct. 26, 1926 1,740,830 Parker Dec. 24, 1926 1,860,910 Taylor May 31, 1932 2,130,556 Miller Sept. 20, 1938 2,628,367 Green Feb. 17, 1953 2,760,210 Bebry Aug. 28, 1956 2,788,253 Gussack Apr. 9, 1957 2,909,789 Bailey Oct. 27, 1959 2,955,297 Bailey Oct. 11, 1960 3,049,723 Thierfelder Aug. 21, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,221,467 France Jan. 11, 1960

Claims (1)

1. A CONVERTIBLE BED AND COUCH, COMPRISING A FULLLENGTH UN-JOINTED BED DISPOSED AT ALL TIMES IN A HORIZONTAL PLANE AND ADAPTED TO BE MOVED HORIZONTALLY FROM A DAYTIME POSITION PARALLEL AND ADJACENT ONE WALL OF A ROOM AND A NIGHTTIME POSITION PERPENDICULAR TO SAID ONE WALL, A FIRST HORIZONTAL LINK PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID WALL AND TO SAID BED, ONE END OF SAID FIRST HORIZONTAL LINK BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID WALL ADJACENT ONE END OF SAID BED WHEN SAID BED IS IN SAID DAYTIME POSITION, SAID LINK EXTENDING GENERALLY PERPENDICULAR TO SAID WALL WHEN SAID BED IS IN SAID DAYTIME POSITION AND HAVING ITS OTHER END PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID BED AT A POINT SPACED A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE FROM SAID WALL, A SECOND HORIZONTAL LINK PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID WALL AND TO SAID BED, ONE END OF SAID SECOND HORIZONTAL LINK BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID WALL AT A POINT SPACED A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE FROM SAID ONE END OF SAID FIRST HORIZONTAL LINK AND BEING ADJACENT SAID BED WHEN SAID BED IS IN SAID DAYTIME POSITION, THE OTHER END OF SAID SECOND HORIZONTAL LINK BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID BED AT A POINT WHICH IS RELATIVELY ADJACENT SAID ONE END OF SAID FIRST HORIZONTAL LINK WHEN SAID BED IS IN SAID DAYTIME POSITION.

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