This application claims the priority benefit of Chinese Utility Model Patent Application No. CN201922193208.0U filed on Dec. 9, 2019, now Chinese Utility Model Patent Grant No. CN211632507U.
The present invention relates to convertible furniture. More specifically, it relates to sofas that convert between sitting and sleeping configurations.
Sofas are commonly sold as sitting furniture that allows more people to comfortably sit side-by-side as compared to other furniture, such as an individual chair. Sofas range in size from small two-person love seats to large couches that can hold four or more people. Some sofas include mechanisms that allow the seat portion to unfold outward and forward to convert into a bed. This combination is commonly called a “sleeper sofa”, “stowaway sofa”, or “sofa bed”.
Sofa beds provide the convenience of a dual-purpose piece of furniture, and there are several kinds, each with their own sets of components assembled to realize a mechanism that switches the sofa bed between the sofa and bed configurations. These component assemblies mean that sofa beds may have complicated internal construction assemblies. These assemblies may be made up of metal tubes, attachments, and other metal members.
A shortcoming of existing sofa beds it that the internal assemblies result in high manufacturing costs. Another shortcoming is that the internal assemblies may weigh so much that the sofa bed is difficult to move around or lift for the average person. Another shortcoming is that the internal assemblies may include so many components that they are subject to easy damage or breakage. Further, the internal assemblies may be difficult and costly to repair.
What is needed is a sofa bed that has a simplified internal assembly that reliably transitions the sofa bed between the bed and sofa configurations. What is also needed is an internal assembly that is lightweight so that the sofa can be easily moved. What is also needed is an internal assembly that is conducive to repair and resistant to damage.
The present invention is an apparatus for use as a convertible sleeping and sitting surface. Specifically, the apparatus is a sofa bed with an enhanced glide apparatus for transitioning between the sofa and bed configurations.
One embodiment of the present disclosure is sofa bed that includes a pair of armrests; at least one first seat cushion disposed between the pair of armrests; at least one first connector attached to each of the at least one first seat cushion; at least one second seat cushion disposed between the pair of armrests; at least one second connector attached to each of the at least one second seat cushion, wherein the at least one first connector and the at least one second connector form a hinge joint; at least one third seat cushion disposed between the set of armrests; a first seat base attached to the at least one first seat cushion; a pair of stand bars supporting the first seat base; a second seat base attached to the at least one second seat cushion; a third seat base attached to the at least one third seat cushion, wherein the second seat base and the third seat base are connected in a hinge joint; a pair of rotating shafts, each disposed in one of the armrests, wherein the third seat base is attached to the rotating shafts opposite the hinge joint with the second seat base; a pair of support legs configured to support the second seat base; a pair of first slide rails, each attached to one of the pair of support legs; a pair of first glide wheels, each connected to at least one of the first connectors, wherein each of the first slide rails is configured to receive the first glide wheel and allow it to roll along at least part of the length of the first slide; a pair of second slide rails, each attached to one of the pair of armrests; and a pair of second glide wheels, each of the second glide wheels connected to one of the support legs, wherein each of the second slides is configured to receive the second glide wheel and allow it to roll along at least part of the length of the second slide. The sofa bed may also include a locking mechanism. Where the first seat base has a side distal to the second seat base and a side proximal to the second seat base and the second seat base includes a protrusion opposite the second seat cushion, the locking mechanism may include a pair of reinforcing rods, each with a first side and a second side, wherein the each of the first sides is attached to the corresponding distal side of the first seat base and each of the second sides is attached to the corresponding proximal side of the first seat base; a pair of ratchet brackets, each comprising an L-shaped bar with a long side and short side and comprising indentations along the long side, the short side being attached to the reinforcing rod and the long side being attached to the proximal side of the first seat base; a pair of locking rods, each with one end attached to the corresponding protrusion on the second seat base and the other end engaging the teeth of the ratchet bracket; and a pair of slider stops, each surrounding a long side of one of the ratchet brackets and comprising a spring between the slider stop and the locking rod to apply force to maintain engagement between the teeth and the locking rod. The sofa bed may also include a support pad disposed on each of the first slides to support the second seat base and the third seat base. The sofa bed may also include a pair of first casters, each on one of the stand bars; and a pair of second casters, each on one of the support legs. The third seat base may include a pair of connection plates and each of the rotating shafts may connect to the third seat base at one of the connection plates.
Examples of the more important features of the disclosure have been summarized rather broadly in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the contributions they represent to the art may be appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto.
The organization and manner of the structure and operation of the invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals identify like elements in which:
While this invention may be susceptible to embodiment in different forms, specific embodiments are shown in the drawings and will be described herein in detail with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to that as illustrated.
The parts of this disclosure may be discussed in singular or paired fashion, as one side of the sofa bed 100 would be understood by a person of skill in the art to have symmetry between the parts on each side but may have singular or paired parts between pairs of other parts. For example, a person of skill in the art would understand that a sofa has two armrests. Also, a person of skill in the art would understand that a sofa may be designed to have a pair of cushions or a single long cushion.
The first seat cushion 21, the second seat cushion 22, and the third seat cushion 23 are disposed between the pair of armrests 1. The seat cushions 21, 22, 23 may be constructed of a plywood or metal base 31, 32, 33 that is wrapped with foam and polyurethane leather. Each of the first seat base 31, the second seat base 32, and the third seat base 33 correspond to one of the seat cushions 21, 22, 23. Each seat base 31, 32, 33 is disposed on one side of corresponding seat cushion 21, 22, 23 opposite from where a user would come in contact with the seat cushions 21, 22, 23 during normal use of the sofa bed 100.
A first connector 51 is attached to the first seat cushion 21 and a second connector 52 is attached to the second seat cushion 22. The first connector 51 and the second connector 52 are attached to each other by a fastener that acts as a hinge 335 and allows the two connectors 51, 52 to rotate relative to each other such that the first seat cushion 21 and the second seat cushion 22 can move relative to one another to jointly form a substantially planar surface in the bed configuration and at least one of: an acute, right, or obtuse angle in sofa configuration as would be understood by a person of skill in the art. Connectors 51, 52 may comprise a crescent hinge.
The first seat base 31 may be made of metal. A reinforcing rod 34 may be attached to the first seat base 31. The reinforcing rod 34 may be bent or curved rather than straight. Each of the ends of the reinforcing rod 34 may be connected proximate to or at the ends of the first seat base 31. The reinforcing rod 34 may be made of metal as well.
The first seat base 31 may be supported by two stand bars 30. Each of the stand bars may be connected on one end to the first seat base 31 and have a first caster 300 attached on the other end for contact with a floor surface, such that the first seat base 31 will roll on the floor when moved toward or away from the rest of the sofa bed 100. The first seat base, viewed from the side, may be L-shaped. The short side of the L-shaped may be used as an attachment point for part of the ratchet or locking system 500 discussed further below.
As with the first seat base 31, the second seat base 32 and the third seat base 33 may also be made of metal or another suitable material that provide structural support and attachment points for the other components. A hinge 336 may connect the side of the second seat base 32 distal from the first seat base 31 with one side of the third seat base 33.
As seen in
When shown in the sofa configuration, it can be seen that the sofa bed 100 includes a system for sliding and locking the seat bases 31, 32, 33 so that the sofa bed 10 can be transitioned between the sofa configuration and the bed configuration.
A support leg 40 may be attached to a first slide 41 and a second slide 42. The support leg may be metal and L-shaped. A vertical portion of the support leg 40 may have a second caster 400 disposed on its end between the support leg 40 and the floor surface. The first slide 41 is a slide rail attached to the top of the horizontal portion of the support leg 40. A first glide wheel 211 may be attached to the first connector 51 in a position where the first glide wheel 211 is received by the first slide 41 and can roll along with the first slide 41. A support pad 410 may be disposed on top of the first slide 41 to support the second seat base 32 and the third seat base 33 when the sofa bed 100 is in the bed configuration. The second slide 42 is a slide rail attached to the armrest 1. The horizontal portion of the support leg 40 may have a second glide wheel 401 disposed along its length that can roll along the length of the second slide 42. In some embodiments, the second glide wheel 401 may be attached to the first slide 41.
The locking system 500 may include a ratchet bracket 61 with teeth 62, a locking rod 63, a slider stop 64, and first and second hinge joints 434, 436. The ratchet bracket 61 may be metal and L-shaped, with the teeth 62 disposed along the long part of the L. The teeth are made up of indentations in the ratchet bracket 61 and define positions along the length of the long side. One end of the ratchet bracket 61 is connected to the reinforcing rod 34, and the other end is connected to the first seat base 31. Alternative fastening mechanisms may be used.
The second seat base 32 includes a protrusion 332 on its underside proximal to the first seat base 31. Similarly, the first seat base 31 may include a protrusion or bracket to which first hinge joint 434 is connected at the underside of base 31. The protrusion 332 includes an opening for forming a hinge joint 436. The locking rod 63 is a bent metal bar with one end connected to the protrusion 332 at the hinge joint 436. The other end of the locking rod 63 is positioned to engage at least one of the teeth 62. The slider stop 64 is metal and surrounds part of the long side of the ratchet bracket 61. The slider stop 64 is configured to slide along one side of the ratchet bracket 61 and assist in the engagement of the locking rod 63 with the teeth 62. A spring 641 is attached between the slider stop 64 and the end of the locking rod 63 proximal to the slider stop 64. The force from the spring 641 holds the locking rod 63 engaged with at least one of the teeth 62 unless acted on by another force.
As shown in
As shown in
In operation from the sofa configuration to the bed configuration, the seat base 31 may be lifted vertically by way of an optional handle 50 or similar device preferably connected to base 31 or backing support 422.
To move the sofa bed 100 back into the sofa configuration, the seat base 31 is preferably once again lifted vertically by way of an optional handle 50. This will engage the slider stop 64 with the teeth 62. As best shown in
As shown in the figures and described above, sofa bed 100, 700 provides numerous advantageous and unique features over the prior art. A standard sofa bed has its mechanism placed beneath the seats of the sofa, and the seat cushions must be removed to open the metal mechanism. The mechanism of sofa bed 100, 700 is preferably not placed beneath the seat base 31; it actually includes the seat bases 31, 32, 33 and corresponding cushions 21, 22, 23 as part of the bed. Thus, the cushions 21, 22, 23 do not need to be removed and stored while the sofa bed 100, 700 is in use in any configuration. The sofa bed 100, 700 has first and second sets of casters or wheels 300, 400 that allow the sofa bed 100, 700 to be moved in a single continuous motion when it is open or closed. The back of sofa bed 100, 700 is preferably a double-sided cushion 22, 23 mechanism that allows it to fold flat to become part of the bed surface, as shown in
The sofa bed 100, 700 comprises the seat bases 31, 32, 33 that all extend and revert together as a single unit to form the sleep surface 760. The back height 770 and sleep surface 760 of sofa bed 100, 700 can be adjusted in production or by a user to fit tight areas. A standard sofa bed mechanism also requires about 12 inches of clearance from the sofa back to move upward for the mattress storage, whereas as the sofa bed 100, 700 mechanism can be very close to the wall 720 at all times, thus allowing for a longer mattress that is closer to the wall 720 and consequently conserves space as compared to traditional mattresses that extend further into the space where the sofa bed is installed. This feature of sofa bed 100, 700 is particularly advantageous in tight spaces such as RVs. The sofa bed 100, 700, has a built in “lock” position that keeps the unit from opening when it is in the seat configuration, the lock position being facilitated by the interaction of the clip 420 and strut 57. To open the sofa bed 100, 700 into the bed configuration, handle 50 may be grasped and the seat base 31 lifted upwardly a few inches such that the clip 420 and locking mechanism 500 will release. The handle 50 may be lowered and gently pulled outwardly, such that the casters 300, 400 bear the weight of the sofa bed 100, 700 as the sofa bed 100, 700 gently rolls out into the bed configuration. To close the sofa bed 100, 700, the handle 50 may be grasped again and the base 31 lifted upwardly between preferably 1 to 10 inches from the floor to engage the locking mechanism 500. In normal operation, an audible “click” may be heard, indicating that the locking mechanism 500 is engaged. This will cause the adjacent edges of bases 32, 33 to move upwardly as rod 63 pushes on base 32 toward an A-frame shape as described above and shown in
While embodiments in the present disclosure have been described in some detail, according to the preferred embodiments illustrated above, it is not meant to be limiting to modifications such as would be obvious to those skilled in the art.
The foregoing disclosure and description of the disclosure are illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the details of the illustrated apparatus and system, and the construction and the method of operation may be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosure.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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201922193208.0U | Dec 2019 | CN | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US2020/063855 | 12/9/2020 | WO |