FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to furniture frames, and more specifically to a furniture frame having a bracket mechanism for supporting a linkage between a first section and a second section of the furniture frame such as a backrest section and a seat section of the furniture frame.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
None
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX
None
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Furniture frames that are convertible between a bed position and a couch position are known in the art. Use of convertible furniture frames allow users to maximize the use of a limited living space such as that of a studio or a small apartment by reducing the space dedicated for the furniture. That is, instead of requiring a space in the apartment dedicated solely for the user's bed and another space in the apartment dedicated solely for the user's couch or sofa, the use of the convertible furniture frame allow the user to eliminate one of the aforementioned dedicated furniture spaces thereby providing the user with increased living space.
The assembly of the aforementioned prior art convertible furniture frames normally includes at least one but usually two linkages between a first section of the furniture frame and a second section of the furniture frame such as a backrest section and a seat section. The linkage between the backrest section and the seat section normally occurs at the sides of the backrest section and the seat section of the furniture frame and is traditionally connected by just a pin or bolt extending through the sides of the backrest section and the seat section. More specifically, in linking the sides of the backrest section to the seat section, the pin or bolt normally extends through the sides of the backrest section first and then through the seat section by way of an elongated slot located thereon, the elongated slot allowing for the horizontal displacement of the seat section for the conversion of the furniture frame between and the bed position and the couch position. A securing member such as a bolt is then attached to a free end of the pin or bolt to maintain the aforementioned linkage.
Although prior art convertible furniture frames work for their intended purpose, due to the fact that the linkages between the backrest section and the seat section of the furniture frame are mainly supported by the side members of the backrest section and the seat section, prolong and/or substantial use of the prior art convertible furniture frames can often weaken the linkage of the furniture frame to a point where the linkage is broken due to potential cracking of the sidewalls of the furniture frame. The aforementioned problem is especially true around the areas where the elongated slot of the seat section is located.
The present invention solves the above problem by providing for a furniture frame having a furniture frame bracket for further supporting the linkage between the sides of the backrest section and the seat section of the furniture frame so as to distribute the forces that are directed on the linkages between the backrest section and the seat section of the furniture frame so as to reduce the potential for breakage of the aforementioned linkage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a furniture frame and a furniture frame bracket. The furniture frame includes a backrest section having a first side, a second side, and a cross panel member linking the first side of the backrest section to the second side of the backrest section and a seat section having a first side, a second side, and a cross panel member linking the first side of the seat section to the second side of the seat section. The linkage of the furniture frame of the present invention includes a first pin having a free end and a second pin having a free end with the first pin extending through the first side of the first section and the first side of the second section and the second pin extending through the second side of the first section and the second side of the second section.
The furniture frame of the present invention further includes a furniture frame bracket comprising a bracket main body having a surface for engaging a portion of a furniture frame such as the cross panel member of the backrest section or the cross panel member of the seat second and a leg for further supporting the linkage between the backrest section and seat section.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a prior art furniture frame;
FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of a furniture frame of the present invention;
FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of a furniture frame bracket of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a partial exploded view showing the assembly of first furniture frame bracket to the furniture frame;
FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view showing an alternative embodiment of a furniture frame of the present invention;
FIG. 6 shows a furniture frame bracket having a main body secured to an outer surface of a cross member and a leg engaging an inner surface of a first side of a backrest section;
FIG. 7 shows a furniture frame bracket having a main body secured to an outer surface of a cross member and a leg engaging an inner surface of a first side of a seat section;
FIG. 8 shows a partial close-up view of a furniture frame bracket having a main body secured to an end surface of the first side of a seat section;
FIG. 9 shows a partial close-up view of a furniture frame bracket having a main body secured to top surface of the first side of a backrest section;
FIG. 10 shows a partial close-up view of a furniture frame bracket having a main body secured to a top surface of a first side of a seat section;
FIG. 11 shows a partial close-up view of a furniture frame bracket having a main body secured to a top surface of a first side of a seat section;
FIG. 12 shows a partial close-up view of a furniture frame bracket having a main body secured to a top surface of a first side of a backrest section;
FIG. 13 shows a partial close-up view of a furniture frame bracket having a main body secured to an end surface of the first side of a backrest section;
FIG. 14 shows a partial close-up view of a furniture frame bracket secured to an inner surface of a seat section of the furniture frame;
FIG. 15 shows a partial close-up view of a furniture frame bracket secured to an outer surface of a seat section of the furniture frame;
FIG. 16 shows a partial close-up view of a furniture frame bracket pivotably linking a backrest section to seat section;
FIG. 17 shows a partial close-up view of a furniture frame bracket having a leg positioned within a slot formed in the first side of a seat section;
FIG. 18 shows a partial close-up view of a furniture frame bracket having a main body secured to a backrest section and a first leg and a second leg attached to a seat section; and
FIG. 19 shows a partial close-up view of a furniture frame bracket having a first leg pivotably attached to a seat section and a second leg attached to a backrest section.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view showing a prior art furniture frame 10 that is convertible between a bed position and a couch position. Furniture frame 10 comprises a backrest section 11 and a seat section 12. As shown in FIG. 1, the backrest section 11 includes a first side 13, a second side 14 and a cross member 15 linking the first side 13 of the backrest section 11 to the second side 14 of the backrest section 11. The seat section 12 includes a first side 16, a second side 17 and a cross member 18 linking the first side 16 of the seat section 12 to the second side 17 of the seat section 12.
Located on the sides of the backrest section 11 and the seat section 12 is a first pin 19 linking the first side 13 of the backrest section 11 to the first side 16 of the seat section 12 and a second pin 21 linking the second side 14 of the backrest section 11 to the second side 17 of the seat section 12. Although not clearly shown, in order to maintain the linkage between the backrest section 11 and the seat section 12, a nut is secured to a free end of the first pin 19 and a free end of the second pin 20 to prevent withdrawal of the pins 19 and 20.
Referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view showing a furniture frame 21 of the present invention. Furniture frame 21 is similar to the furniture frame 10 of FIG. 1 as furniture frame 21 also comprises a backrest section 22 having a first side 24, a second side 25 and a cross member 26 linking the first side 24 of the backrest section 22 to the second side 25 of the backrest section 22 and a seat section 23 having a first side 27, a second side 28 and a cross member 29 linking the first side 27 of the seat section 23 to the second side 28 of the seat section 23. Located on the sides of the backrest section 22 and the seat section 23 is a first pin 30 linking the first side 24 of the backrest section 22 to the first side 27 of the seat section 23 and a second pin 31 linking the second side 25 of the backrest section 22 to the second side 28 of the seat section 23.
However, unlike the furniture frame of FIG. 1, Furniture frame 21 further includes a first furniture frame bracket 32 for further supporting the linkage between the first sides 24 and 27 of the backrest section 22 and the seat section 23 and a second furniture frame bracket 33 for supporting the linkage between the second sides 25 and 28 of the backrest section 22 and the seat section 23 by further distributing the forces that are directed on the linkages between the backrest section 22 and the seat section 23 of the furniture frame 21 so as to reduce the potential for breakage of the aforementioned linkage. Although furniture frame brackets 32 and 33 are shown secured to the cross panel member 26 of the backrest section 22, furniture frame brackets 32 and 33 can alternatively be secured to the cross panel member 29 of the seat section 23.
FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the first furniture frame bracket 32 of furniture frame 21. Although first furniture frame bracket 32 will be further described, it is noted that the second furniture frame bracket 33 will have similar corresponding parts that are described for first furniture frame bracket 32. As shown in FIG. 3, furniture frame bracket 32 comprises a bracket main body 34 having an outer surface 35 for engaging a portion of the furniture frame and a leg 36 for supporting the linkage between the first side 24 of the backrest section 22 and the first side 27 of the seat section 23.
Although furniture frame bracket 32 can be secured to the furniture frame in various ways such as by the use of an adhesive, FIG. 3 shows bracket main body 34 of first furniture frame bracket 32 having multiple attachment member guides 37 located thereon for guiding attachment members such as nails or a bolts therethrough for the securement of furniture frame bracket 32 to the surface of the furniture frame.
In regards to the leg 36 of furniture frame bracket 32, although leg 36 can be position at various angles with respect to the main body 34 of furniture frame bracket 32, leg 36 is preferably position perpendicular to the bracket main body 34 of furniture frame bracket 32. Referring to FIG. 3, note that furniture frame bracket 32 also includes an orifice 38 located on the leg 36 of the bracket 32 for the extension of a protruding member therethrough.
FIG. 4 is a partial exploded view showing the assembly of furniture frame bracket 32 to furniture frame 21. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, in the assembly of furniture frame bracket 32 to furniture frame 21, the outer surface 35 of bracket 32 first engages a portion of the cross panel member 26. Furniture frame bracket 32 is then fixed to the cross panel member 26 of furniture frame 21 by the use of an attachment member comprising a plurality of screws 39, which as shown in FIG. 4, is directed through furniture frame bracket 32 by a plurality of attachment member guides 37.
It is noted that although a plurality of screws are used in the embodiment of FIG. 4 for the securement of furniture frame bracket 32 to furniture frame 21, as few as one screw can be used to secure first furniture frame bracket 32 to furniture frame 21. It is further noted that attachment members including but not limited to nail(s), nut(s) & bolt(s), or an adhesive can also be used to secured furniture frame bracket 32 to furniture frame 21.
Once furniture frame bracket 32 is secured to cross panel member 26, a portion of the first side 27 of the seat section 23 having a slot 40 located therein is sandwichly positioned between the first side 24 of backrest section 22 and the leg 36 of furniture frame bracket 32. The first side 24 of the backrest section 22 is then connected to the first side 27 of the seat section 23 and further supported by the leg 36 of furniture frame bracket 32 by the use of a first protruding member comprising a pin 30 having a head 30A and a free end 30B.
As shown in FIG. 4, although it is preferred that the first side 24 of the backrest section 22, the first side 27 of the seat section 23, and the orifice 38 of bracket 32 are linked by the extension of the free end 30B of pin 30 first through an access guide 41 located on the first side 24 of the backrest section 22, then through the slot 40 of the first side 27 of the seat section 23, and finally, through the orifice 38 of leg 36, it is noted that the free end 30B of pin 30 alternatively can extend first through the orifice 38 bracket 32, then through the slot 40 of the first side 27 of the seat section 23, and finally through access guide 41 of first side 24 of backrest portion 22.
In further regards to the above, in order to maintain the linkage between the backrest section 22 and the seat section 23 of the furniture frame 21, a locking member such as nut 42 can be secured to the free end 30B of the pin 30 to prevent the withdrawal of pin 30.
Referring to FIG. 5, FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view showing a furniture frame 43 of the present invention similar to the furniture frame 21 of FIG. 2. However, unlike the furniture frame of FIG. 2, Furniture frame 43 shows first furniture frame bracket 32 and second furniture frame bracket 33 secured to a cross panel member 45 of a seat section 44 of the furniture frame 43 for further supporting the linkage between the first sides 46 and 49 of a backrest section 48 and the seat section 44 and the linkage between the second sides 47 and 50 of the backrest section 48 and the seat section 44 by further distributing the forces that are directed on the linkages between the backrest section 48 and the seat section 44 of the furniture frame 43 so as to reduce the potential for breakage of the aforementioned linkage.
FIG. 6 is a partial close-up view showing an alternative assembly of furniture frame bracket 32 to furniture frame 21. Similar to the FIG. 4, in the assembly of FIG. 6, the outer surface 35 of furniture frame bracket 32 is secured to a portion of the cross panel member 26 located proximal the first side 24 of the backrest section 22. However, unlike the assembly of FIG. 4, the leg 26 of furniture frame bracket 32 is shown in FIG. 6 sandwiched between the first side 24 of backrest section 22 and the first side 27 of the seat section 23 for supporting the linkage of the first sides 24 and 27 of the backrest portion 22 and the seat section 23.
FIG. 6 also shows a protruding member comprising a pin 90 pivotably linking the first side 24 of backrest section 22 with the first side 27 of seat section 23 and a locking member comprising locking pin 91 for maintaining the linkage engagement of pin 90 to the first sides 24 and 27 of the backrest portion 22 and the seat section 23.
FIG. 7 is a partial close-up view showing an alternative assembly of furniture frame bracket 32 to furniture frame 21. In the assembly of FIG. 6, the outer surface 35 of furniture frame bracket 32 is secured to a portion of an outer surface 43 of the cross panel member 29 located proximal the first side 27 of the seat section 23 with the leg 36 of furniture frame bracket 32 engaging a inner surface 27a of the first side 27 of seat section 23 and positioned to cooperate with the first side 24 of backrest section 22 to sandwich the first side 27 of the seat section 23 therebetween. The first side 24 of the backrest section 22 is shown pivotably connected or linked to the first side 27 of the seat section 23 by pin 90 with the aforementioned connection or link further strengthen by the support of leg 36 of furniture frame bracket 32 to pin 90.
FIG. 8 is a partial close-up view showing an assembly of a furniture frame bracket 92 secured to furniture frame 21. In the assembly of FIG. 8, an inner surface 51 of a main body 93 of furniture frame bracket 92 is secured to an end surface 52 of the first side 27 of seat section 23 with a leg 94 of furniture frame bracket 92 sandwichly positioned between the first side 24 of backrest section 22 and the first side 27 of seat section 23. Leg 94 of furniture frame bracket 92, the first side 24 of backrest section 22 and the first side 27 of seat section 23 are then linked to each other through the use of pin 90.
It is noted that a feature of furniture frame bracket 92 is that although furniture frame bracket 92 is similar in parts to the furniture frame bracket 32 of FIG. 3, furniture frame bracket 92 is preferably dimension such that the length of main body 93 is sufficient to cover the surface area of the end surface 51 of the first side 27 of seat section 23.
FIG. 9 is a partial close-up view showing an alternative assembly of furniture frame bracket 92 secured to furniture frame 21. In the assembly of FIG. 9, the inner surface 51 of the main body 93 of furniture frame bracket 92 is secured to the end surface 52 of the first side 27 of seat section 23 with leg 94 of furniture frame bracket 92 engaging the inner surface 27a of the first side 27 of seat section 23 and positioned such that a portion of the first side 27 of the seat section 23 is sandwichly positioned between the first side 24 of backrest section 22 and the leg 94 of furniture frame bracket 92. The first side 24 of the backrest section 22, the first side 27 of the seat section 23 and the leg 36 of furniture frame bracket 32 are then linked to each other through use of pin 90.
FIG. 10 is a partial close-up view showing an assembly of a furniture frame bracket 55 secured to furniture frame 21. In the assembly of FIG. 10, an inner surface 58 of a main body 56 of furniture frame bracket 55 is secured to a top surface 59 of the first side 27 of seat section 23 with a leg 57 of furniture frame bracket 55 engaging the inner surface 27a of the first side 27 of seat section 23 and positioned such that a portion of the first side 27 of the seat section 23 is sandwichly positioned between the first side 24 of backrest section 22 and the leg 57 of furniture frame bracket 55. The first side 24 of the backrest section 22, the first side 27 of the seat section 23 and the leg 57 of furniture frame bracket 55 are then linked to each other through use pin 90.
It is noted that a feature of furniture frame bracket 55 is that although furniture frame bracket 55 is similar in parts to the furniture frame bracket 32 of FIG. 3, furniture frame bracket 55 is preferably dimension such that the length of main body 56 is sufficient to cover the width of the top surface 59 of the first side 27 of seat section 23.
FIG. 11 is a partial close-up view showing an alternative assembly of furniture frame bracket 55 secured to furniture frame 21 similar to the assembly 54 of FIG. 10 in that the inner surface 58 of the main body 56 of furniture frame bracket 55 is secured to the top surface 59 of the first side 27 of seat section 23. However, in the assembly of FIG. 11, the leg 57 of furniture frame bracket 55 is shown located between the first side 24 of backrest section 22 and the first side 27 of seat section 23.
FIG. 12 is a partial close-up view showing an alternative assembly 61 of furniture frame bracket 55 secured to a furniture frame 63. In the assembly of FIG. 12, the inner surface 58 of the main body 56 of furniture frame bracket 55 is secured to a top surface 62 of a first side 64 of a backrest section 65 with the leg 57 of furniture frame bracket 55 sandwichly positioned between the first side 64 of backrest section 65 and a first side 66 of seat section 67.
Referring to FIGS. 10, 11, and 12, a feature of the assembly of FIGS. 10, 11, and 12 is that the securement of main body 56 of furniture frame bracket 55 to top surface 59 and top surface 62 allows main body 56 to also serve as a surface protector for the portion of the furniture frame that the main body 56 covers while the linkage between the backrest sections 22 and 65 and the seat sections 23 and 67 are further support by leg 57 of furniture frame bracket 55.
FIG. 13 is a partial close-up view showing an alternative assembly of furniture frame bracket 55 secured to furniture frame 63. In the assembly of FIG. 13, the inner surface 58 of the main body 56 of furniture frame bracket 55 is secured to an end surface 69 of the first side 64 of a backrest section 65 with the leg 57 of furniture frame bracket 55 sandwichly positioned between the first side 64 of backrest section 65 and a first side 66 of seat section 67.
FIG. 14 is a partial close-up view showing an assembly a furniture frame bracket 68 secured to furniture frame 63. In the assembly of FIG. 14, an outer surface 71 of a main body 69 of furniture frame bracket 68 is secured to a portion of an inner surface 61 of a cross member 60 of seat section 67 with a leg 70 of furniture frame bracket 68 engaging an inner surface 66a of the first side 66 of seat section 67 and positioned such that a portion of the first side 66 of the seat section 67 is sandwichly positioned between the first side 64 of backrest section 65 and the leg 70 of furniture frame bracket 68. The first side 64 of the backrest section 65, the first side 66 of the seat section 67 and the leg 70 of furniture frame bracket 68 are then linked to each other through the use pin 90.
FIG. 15 is a partial close-up view showing an alternative assembly of furniture frame bracket 68 secured to furniture frame 63. In the assembly of FIG. 15, the inner surface 74 of the main body 69 of furniture frame bracket 68 is secured to a portion of an outer surface 54 of a cross member 60 of seat section 67 with the leg 70 of furniture frame bracket 68 sandwichly positioned between the first side 64 of backrest section 65 and a first side 66 of seat section 67.
FIG. 16 is a partial close-up view showing an alternative assembly of furniture frame bracket 68 secured to a furniture frame 72. In the assembly of FIG. 16, the outer surface 71 of the main body 69 of furniture frame bracket 68 is secured to a portion of an outer surface 73 of a cross member 74 of a backrest section 75 with the leg 70 of furniture frame bracket 68 pivotably attached to a first side 76 of a seat section 77 by pin 90 to pivotably link backrest section 75 to seat section 77.
FIG. 17 is a partial close-up view showing an alternative assembly of furniture frame bracket 68 secured to a furniture frame 72. Similar to the assembly of FIG. 16, in the assembly of FIG. 17 the outer surface 73 of the main body 69 of furniture frame bracket 68 is secured to a portion of the outer surface 73 of the cross member 74 of backrest section 75 preferably proximal a first side 78 of backrest section 75. However, unlike the assembly of FIG. 16, in FIG. 17 the leg 70 of furniture frame bracket 68 is shown positioned within a slot 79 formed in the first side 76 of the seat section 77 with leg 70 attached to the first side 76 of seat section 77 by pin 90 to pivotably link backrest section 75 to seat section 77. It is noted that one of the advantages of pivotably attaching leg 70 of furniture frame bracket 68 within slot 79 is that the aforementioned provides for a furniture frame having a visually natural appearance, and more specifically, of the appearance of a furniture frame of all wood construction.
FIG. 18 is a partial close-up view showing an assembly of a furniture frame bracket 80 secured to furniture frame 21. In the assembly of FIG. 17, an outer surface 84 of a main body 81 of furniture frame bracket 80 is shown secured to a portion of an outer surface 26a of the cross member 26 of backrest section 22 preferably proximal the first side 24 of backrest section 22.
Furniture frame bracket 80 includes a first leg 82 resting against an inner surface 27a of the first side 27 of seat section 23 and a second leg 83 sandwichly positioned between the first side 24 of backrest section 22 and the leg first side 24 of backrest section 22. The first side 24 of the backrest section 22, the first side 27 of the seat section 23 and legs 82 and 83 of furniture frame bracket 80 are linked to each other through the use pin 90. In regards to second leg 83, the presence of second leg 83 provide increase stability and additional strength to the linkage between the backrest section 22 and the seat section 23. For example, the presence of second leg 83 will further protect the linking region of the first side 27 of seat section 23 for cracking during the manufacturing and use of the furniture frame 21
FIG. 19 is a partial close-up view showing an assembly of a furniture frame bracket 85 secured to furniture frame 72. In the assembly of FIG. 19, an outer surface 89 of a main body 86 of furniture frame bracket 85 is shown secured to a portion of the outer surface 73 of the cross member 74 of backrest section 75. Furniture frame bracket 85 includes a first leg 87 pivotably attached to an inner surface 76 of the first side 76 of seat section 77 by pin 90. Furniture frame bracket 85 also includes a second leg 88 resting against an outer surface 78a of the first side 78 of backrest section 75 to provide further stability and strength to the linkage between the backrest section 75 and the seat section 77.
Patent Application
20060119161
