Patent Application
20110214232
The present disclosure relates to furniture accessories, and for example, to a sofa conversion frame for converting a bed into a sofa.
Traditional beds of various different configurations provide a comfortable environment for sleeping. A “traditional bed” refers to a bed comprising a mattress, a box spring and a standard two rail bed frame. However, the size of the traditional bed tends to occupy much of the available space in a room, for example a bedroom, hotel room, studio apartment, leaving little room for other furniture such as a sofa. Several different solutions have been proposed to minimize the required space for a bed or to increase the functional aspects thereof.
One solution involves a conventional sofa bed. This typically comprises a sofa with a foldable internal frame and a foldable mattress that serve as the seat of the sofa. The internal frame and mattress can be unfolded to form a bed. The sofa bed is a space saving piece of furniture, but due to additional hardware and mattress, it is very heavy and unwieldy to move.
Another solution resides in futons. A futon is typically a foldable frame having a foldable mattress. The frame and mattress can be folded into a sofa configuration or unfolded to a bed configuration. This is another sofa/bed combination maximizing living space. However, futons can be daunting to assemble, especially for the foldable frame where the rollers or sliders have to be installed in corresponding grooves.
Due to the above, the present applicant has determined that it would be a benefit in the art of furniture and furniture accessories to provide a space saving and dual functional system with minimal assembly hassles and/or placement thereof.
Additionally, the usage of either a sofa bed or a futon requires the user to purchase and install either article of furniture. Most consumers already have a bed and the present applicant has determined that it would be desirable to provide multiple functionality for the traditional bed, allowing it to be used for additional furniture purposes without having to purchase or otherwise acquire and install additional pieces of furniture.
Thus, the present applicant has determined that a frame that can easily convert a stand-alone traditional bed into a sofa (bed to a sofa conversion frame) may have a benefit by creating a dual purpose for a traditional bed.
An exemplary embodiment of a “bed to a sofa conversion frame” is a frame separate from a bed/mattress that, when combined with a traditional bed, will allow the traditional bed to function as a sofa. An exemplary embodiment of a frame includes a backrest, a footer (optional) and a pair of armrests adapted to be assembled together to form a sofa frame around a bed.
In an embodiment, the frame allows a traditional bed to be used as both a bed and a sofa, without folding of the mattress.
In an embodiment, the pair of armrests forms a base for connecting the backrest and the footer via connectors, for example, corresponding mounting hardware and mounting slots. Both the backrest and the footer may be, individually, one solid piece, individual pieces connected by connectors, for example, brackets. Both the backrest and the footer may be, individually, detachable and foldable to provide easy breakdown and storage. In an embodiment, the frame may be one unitary piece, or an assembled frame that is not intended to be readily disassembled. For example, an assembled frame that is not intended to be readily disassembled may include a frame where disassembly results in permanent damage to connectors, to the frame or to a covering material. In an embodiment, the footer is not incorporated as a component of the frame. In an embodiment, the armrests can include an extension or an attached bracket to anchor the armrests and backrest to the bed.
These and other features and functions of embodiments of the present disclosure will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.
An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a bed to a sofa conversion frame, generally referred to in the drawings by reference number 10, for converting a bed into a sofa.
As shown in the exemplary embodiments of
To show the flexibility of various embodiments of the disclosure, the bed to a sofa conversion frame 10 can be configured for easy assembly, disassembly and storage. As shown in the exemplary embodiments of
Referring to the exemplary embodiments of
Referring to the exemplary embodiments of
Referring to the exemplary embodiments of
In an embodiment, the armrests may act as supports for connecting a backrest, but may not act as armrests, for example, not rising above the height of the upper surface of the bed, for example the upper surface of the mattress. In an embodiment, the height of the armrests may be adjustable in relation to the bed. In an embodiment, the backrest may be connected to the armrests such that the backrest rests on the bed, for example on the mattress. In an embodiment, the backrest may be connected to the armrests in a locked position, such that, for example, the backrest may be positioned to be above the upper surface of the bed, for example the upper surface of the mattress. In an embodiment, the length of the backrest and/or footer may be adjustable to allow the frame to be adapted to various size beds, for example various size mattresses. In an embodiment, the connectors or structure of the armrests and/or backrests may be adjustable to allow, for example, the backrest to recline to various positions. In an embodiment, the connectors or structure of the armrest and/or footer may be adjustable to allow, for example, the footer to move and/or angle up so that the footer acts as a footrest for a seated user
In an embodiment, the sofa conversion frame 10 converts an existing bed B into a sofa. In an embodiment, the frame allows for a tool-less configuration for connecting the parts together results in a relatively easy assembly and disassembly while the foldable backrest 20 and footer 30 allows for easy storage with minimal space.
It is to be understood that the sofa conversion frame 10 encompasses a variety of alternatives. For example, the sofa conversion frame 10 may be made from, for example, wood, plastic, steel and/or composites. For example, other types of tool-less or substantially tool-less connecting configurations are alternatives, such as, for example, tongue and groove configurations, locking pins, wing nuts, or presenting the frame as a solid state unit, etc.
Additionally, it should be understood that the sofa conversion frame 10 may be used in combination with any suitable desired accessories or other articles of furniture. For example, backrest 20 may be used in combination with, or include, for example, as a unitary article, a set of drawers, a cabinet or the like, allowing the frame 10 to incorporate storage functionality. It should be understood that any desired storage space or other suitable article of furniture may be incorporated into frame 10 without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure.
In an embodiment, the frame is provided without a mattress support structure. In an embodiment, the footer contacts a contacts a front face of the mattress. In an embodiment, the backrest rests upon the mattress. In an embodiment, the bottom of the backrest is positioned above the upper surface of the mattress. In an embodiment, the frame and/or pieces thereof may have curved and/or cushioned surfaces.
In an embodiment, various anchors may be included on the frame to prevent the frame from tipping backwards. For example, the footer may include a component(s) that extends under the front of the bed, for example under the front of the mattress. For example, the armrest(s) may include a component(s) that extend under the side of the bed, for example under the side of the mattress. For example, the footer and/or armrest(s) may include an anchor(s) that presents a high friction surface against the bed, for example against the mattress, to prevent the frame from tipping backwards, when positioned around a bed.
In an embodiment, the frame may be adapted to be placed around a bed via, for example, rolling on wheels or sliding, etc, of the frame. For example, a bed may be in the traditional form of usage as a bed, and converted to a sofa by moving, for example by rolling on wheels or sliding, the pre-assembled or unitary frame around the bed.
In an embodiment, the footer is optional and the frame may be configured without the footer.
In an embodiment, the frame may include, optionally as a unitary article, a storage feature, which includes, for example, set of drawers, shelves, a cabinet or the like, positioned in at least one armrest and/or the backrest, allowing the frame to incorporate storage functionality.
Throughout this disclosure embodiments of a frame have been discussed. The disclosure further contemplates that all embodiments that directed to convert a traditional bed comprising a mattress, box spring, and bed frame into a sofa, are also applicable to convert a bed that may comprise just a mattress, or just a mattress and bed frame, or just a mattress and box spring, and vice versa. Further, the embodiments are also applicable to a bed that also has decorative features, such as a decorative frame.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/282,585, filed on Mar. 3, 2010. The entire contents of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/282,585 are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61282585 | Mar 2010 | US |
