Convertible sofa-bed arrangement

• US 4,586,206 A
• Filed: 07/23/1980
• Issued: 05/06/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Morris Singer
• Original Assignee: Morris Singer
• Inventors: Singer, Morris
• Primary Examiner(s): Holko, Thomas J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Trettel, Michael F.
• Application Number:
  US06/171,332
• Time in Patent Office: 2,113 Days
• Field of Search: 5/13, 5/12, 5/18 R, 5/18 B, 5/39, 5/37 R, 5/51 K, 5/146, 5/147, 5/76, 5/51 G, 5/86, 254/394, 254/272, 254/273, 242/155 R
• US Class Current: 5/18.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 17/225 with hidden separate full size mattress frame unfolded out of the base frame
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 5/927 Sofa beds with motor means

Abstract

A convertible sofa-bed arrangement includes a main mounting frame in the form of a sofa and a mattress supporting frame extensible and retractable relative to the main mounting frame on track members mounted on inner portions of the main mounting frame side arms. The mattress supporting frame has opposite side frame members with front portions thereof rigid and rear portions thereof comprising pivotally interconnected link sections for curving upwardly and retracting into an elongate cavity within the sofa backrest. The mattress supporting frame is driven inwardly and outwardly of the main mounting frame by a cable and motor arrangement utilizing a plurality of gripping arms, pulleys and a winding sheave driven by the motor to draw the mattress supporting frame inwardly to a sofa position and outwardly to a bed position. A switch is connected to the motor for stopping, starting and reversing actions.

Claims

1. A convertible sofa-bed arrangement comprising:

(a) a main mounting sofa frame having an upright backrest with a traversely elongated cavity therein and having opposite ends;

(b) track members mounted at said opposite ends of said sofa frame, each track member having a front portion extending generally horizontally and a rear portion curving upwardly from said front portion and into said cavity;

(c) a mattress supporting frame slidably connected at opposite sides thereof to said track members, said mattress frame assuming a bed position upon being fully extended along said track members toward said front portions thereof and assuming a sofa position upon being fully retracted along said track member toward said rear portions thereof, said mattress frame having a front end adjacent said front portions of said track members in said sofa position;

(d) floor engaging casters on said front end of said mattress frame to support same in said bed position;

(e) a mattress positioned on said mattress frame, said mattress having a head end, a foot end, and opposite sides;

(f) said mattress being a substantially standard full size sofa-bed mattress;

(g) said sofa frame and said mattress frame being sized and shaped to receive said mattress in an orientation wherein said head end and said foot end of said mattress are positioned respectively adjacent said opposite sides of said mattress frame and such that side portion of said mattress is received in said cavity in said sofa position;

(h) reversible motor means positioned on said sofa frame, operatively connected to said mattress frame, and operable to translate said mattress frame with said mattress thereon substantially completely between said bed position and said sofa position;

(i) said motor means includes a rotary shaft;

(j) a sheave is positioned on said shaft;

(k) pulley means are mounted on said sofa frame;

(l) cable means engages said sheave and said pulley means and is connected to said mattress frame whereby rotation of said shaft is operative to effect translation of said mattress frame between said bed and sofa positions;

(m) said sofa frame has a front portion and a rear portion;

(n) said pulley means includes a first pulley and a second pulley mounted respectively at said front and rear portions of said sofa frame;

(o) said cable means includes a cable, said cable extending between said first and second pulleys;

(p) said cable is connected to said mattress frame at a point on said cable between said first and second pulleys;

(q) said motor means is an electric motor;

(r) safety switch means is electrically connected to said motor and mechanically connected to said cable and is operative to stop the operation of said motor in response to a selected increase in the tension of said cable;

(s) said safety switch means includes a pair of spaced apart rollers mounted on said sofa frame and having said cable engaged therewith;

(t) a lever arm pivotally mounted on said sofa frame, said arm having a sensing roller at one end thereof, said sensing roller engaging said cable at a position between said pair of rollers;

(u) spring means connected to said arm at an end opposite said sensing roller and connected to said sofa frame, said spring means biasing said sensing roller into engagement with said cable against the tension of said cable;

(v) a switch contact member on said lever arm at a position spaced from the pivotal connection of said arm to said sofa frame; and

(w) a switch positioned on said sofa frame and including a switch operator for contact by said switch contact member upon the tension of said cable exceeding the force of said spring, said switch being connected to said motor and operative to stop the operation thereof upon contact of said switch operator by said switch contact member.