Convertible body support structure

• US 10,638,849 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2017
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Remelts, Matthew David, Robinson, Devon Robert, Beukema, Steven James, Holford, Vernie F., Bedford, Adam C., Garner, Michael Scott, Eberlein, Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): Kurilla, Eric J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coble, James T
• Application Number:
  US15/794,645
• Publication Number:
  US 20180116409A1
• Time in Patent Office: 922 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 17/14 changeable to beds by removing parts only
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 17/165 with forward tiltable back-rest, e.g. back cushion
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 17/86 Parts or details for beds, sofas or couches only not fully covered in a single one of the sub-groups A47C17/02, A47C17/04, A47C17/38, A47C17/52, A47C17/64, or A47C17/84; Drawers in or under beds
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 20/027 Back supports, e.g. for sitting in bed
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 21/003 Lighting, radio, telephone or the like connected to the bedstead
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 29/003 Bed canopies

Abstract

A body support structure includes a base and a cushion moveable between a seating configuration and a sleeping configuration. The cushion may include foldable first and second sections. In one embodiment, a spacer includes first and second support surfaces, and is pivotal between an upright position, wherein the first support surface engages and supports the cushion in the seating configuration, and a down position, wherein the second support surface engages and supports the cushion in the sleeping configuration. Methods of reconfiguring a body support structure are also provided.

Claims

1. A body support structure comprising:

a base defining an upwardly facing first body support surface;

a cushion moveable between a seating configuration and a sleeping configuration, wherein at least a portion of the cushion is spaced above the first body support surface when in the seating configuration, and wherein the cushion is supported by and overlies at least a portion of the first body support surface when in the sleeping configuration, and wherein the cushion defines a forwardly facing second body support surface when in the seating configuration and an upwardly facing third body support surface when in the sleeping configuration, and wherein the first body support surface supports the second body support surface when the cushion is in the sleeping configuration; and

a spacer comprising first and second support surfaces, wherein the spacer is pivotally coupled to the base and is pivotal between an upright position, wherein the first support surface engages and vertically supports the cushion in the seating configuration, and a down position, wherein the second support surface engages and vertically supports the second body support surface of the cushion in the sleeping configuration.

2. The body support structure of claim 1 wherein the cushion comprises a first section rotatably connected to a second section, wherein the first section defines the second body support surface and a first portion of the third body support surface, and wherein the second section defines a second portion of the third body support surface, wherein the first and second sections are moveable relative to each other between the seating configuration, wherein the first and second portions of the third body support surface are facing each other, and the sleeping configuration, wherein the first and second portions of the third body support surface are substantially planar.

3. The body support structure of claim 2 wherein the first body supporting surface is angled downwardly an acute angle relative to a horizontal plane as the first body supporting surface extends rearwardly.

4. The body support structure of claim 3 wherein the third body support surface is substantially horizontal when the cushion is in the sleeping configuration.

5. The body support structure of claim 3 wherein the second body support surface and the first portion of the third body support surface are tapered relative to each other.

6. The body support structure of claim 5 wherein the second section comprises a rearwardly facing surface opposite the second portion of the third body support surface when the cushion is in the seating configuration, and wherein the rearwardly facing surface and the second portion of the third body supporting surface are tapered relative to each other.

7. The body support structure of claim 2 wherein the spacer is connected to the first section with a tether.

8. The body support structure of claim 2 wherein the first section comprises a support layer defining the third body support surface and a cushion layer defining the second body support surface.

9. The body support structure of claim 1 further comprising a spring biasing the spacer to the down position.

10. The body support structure of claim 1 further comprising a rail disposed along a front of the base, and a table moveably supported on the rail, the table positioned above the first body support surface.

11. The body support structure of claim 10 wherein further comprising an upright moveably coupled to the rail, wherein the table is rotatably coupled to the upright.

12. The body support structure of claim 1 further comprising a first rail disposed along a front of the base and a second rail disposed along a rear of the base, and a canopy moveably supported on the first and second rails, wherein the canopy comprises a ceiling portion overlying the first body support surface.

13. The body support structure of claim 1 wherein the second support surface is forwardly facing when the spacer is in the upright position and upwardly facing when the spacer is in the down position.

14. The body support structure of claim 1 wherein the second support surface is visible to the user when the spacer is in the upright position.

15. A body support structure comprising:

a base defining an upwardly facing first body support surface;

a foldable cushion comprising first and second sections, each of the first and second sections being tapered from a first end to a second end and comprising first and second sides, wherein the second end of the first section is hingedly connected to the first end of the second section, wherein the first and second sections are moveable between a seating configuration, wherein the second sides are facing each other and the first sides are facing away from each other, and a sleeping configuration wherein the second sides are facing upwardly and define a second body support surface and the first sides are facing downwardly and are supported on the first body support surface, wherein the second body support surface is substantially horizontal when the first and second sections are in the sleeping configuration, wherein the first end of the first section is spaced above the first body support surface when the first and second sections are in the seating configuration, and wherein the first end of the first section is spaced above and vertically offset from the second end of the second section when the first and second sections are in the seating configuration such that the second side of the second section does not overlap with an entirety of the second side of the first portion when the first and second sections are in the seating configuration.

16. The body support structure of claim 15 wherein the first body supporting surface is angled downwardly an acute angle relative to a horizontal plane as the first body supporting surface extends rearwardly.

17. The body support structure of claim 15 wherein each of the first and second sections comprise a support layer proximal the second sides and a cushion layer proximal the first sides.

18. The body support structure of claim 15 further comprising a rail disposed along a front of the base, and a table moveably supported on the rail, the table positioned above the first body support surface.

19. The body support structure of claim 18 further comprising an upright moveably coupled to the rail, wherein the table is coupled to the upright.

20. The body support structure of claim 15 further comprising a first rail disposed along a front of the base and a second rail disposed along a rear of the base, and a canopy moveably supported on the first and second rails, wherein the canopy comprises a ceiling portion overlying the first body support surface.

21. A body support structure comprising:

a base defining an upwardly facing first body support surface;

a foldable cushion comprising first and second sections, each of the first and second sections being tapered from a first end to a second end and comprising first and second sides, wherein the second end of the first section is hingedly connected to the first end of the second section, wherein the first and second sections are moveable between a seating configuration, wherein the second sides are facing each other and the first sides are facing away from each other, and a sleeping configuration wherein the second sides are facing upwardly and define a second body support surface and the first sides are facing downwardly and are supported on the first body support surface, wherein the second body support surface is substantially horizontal when the first and second sections are in the sleeping configuration; and

a spacer comprising first and second support surfaces, wherein the spacer is pivotally coupled to the base and is pivotal between an upright position, wherein the first support surface engages and supports the first end of the first section, and a down position, wherein the second support surface engages and supports the first side of the first section when the first and second sections are in the sleeping configuration, wherein the second support surface faces forwardly when the spacer is in the upright position and wherein the second surface faces upwardly when the spacer is in the down position.

22. The body support structure of claim 21 wherein the spacer is coupled to the first section with a tether.

23. The body support structure of claim 21 wherein the spring biases the spacer to the down position.