Motorized seat-bed

• US 4,756,034 A
• Filed: 11/28/1986
• Issued: 07/12/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Atwood Industries, Inc. (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: David Robert Stewart
• Inventors: Stewart, David
• Primary Examiner(s): TRETTEL, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US06/935,753
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 5/17, 5/18 R, 5/18 B, 5/51 R-51 C, 5/41, 5/47, 5/48, 297/330
• US Class Current: 5/37.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 17/1753 by sliding, e.g. by rollers
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 17/1756 by pivoted linkages
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 5/927 Sofa beds with motor means

Abstract

A seat-bed assembly is provided having a conversion linkage fixedly attached to the seat member and disposed so as to restrict movement of the seat member during conversion. The seat member is slidable along a path determined by a guide track and avoids excess vertical motion. The conversion driver is mounted to the supporting frame and connects directly to the conversion linkage. The fixed connection of the conversion linkage to the seat member occurs at a rearward extension of the seat member. The back member includes a support projection on its rear surface which rests on that rearward extension to provide increased stability to the back member in the bed position.

Claims

1. A seat-bed assembly convertible between at least a seating position and a bed position, comprising:

a seat member;

a back member;

a frame member having guide means therein;

said guide means comprising a single track on at least one side of the frame member;

linkage means for synchronizing movement of said seat member and said back member between said seating and said bed positions;

said linkage means including a first portion fixedly connected to said seat member and slidably connected to said guide means;

said linkage means also including a second portion pivotably connected to both said back member and said first portion;

said first portion of said linkage means being disposed so as to restrict movement of said seat member to a path substantially parallel to said guide means during conversion between said seating position and said bed position as well as in the seat and bed positions;

said first portion of said linkage means includes at least first and second spaced-apart link members for supporting said seat member within said guide means; and

drive means mounted on said frame member and connected to said linkage means for controlling said movement of said seat member and said back member.

2. The seat-bed assembly according to claim 1 wherein said first portion of said linkage means includes at least first and second spaced-apart link members for supporting said seat member within said guide means, said first and second link members having roller elements within said guide means said roller elements retained in two directions by said guide means whereby said roller elements support both compression forces and tensile forces from cantilevered loads placed upon a forward portion of said seat support.

3. The seat-bed assembly according to claim 2 wherein said guide means includes a single, roller receiving track and said link members each have rollers mounted at one of the ends thereof, said rollers being received within said track to provide said slidable connection with said first portion of said linkage means.

4. The seat-bed assembly according to claim 1 wherein said drive means includes a gear drive, a drive screw and a drive nut, said gear drive being mounted on said frame member, said drive nut being mounted in a bracket fixed with respect to said first portion of said linkage means, and said drive screw being operably supported by said gear drive and said drive nut and spanning the distance therebetween.

5. The seat-bed assembly according to claim 4 wherein said first portion of said linkage means includes a plurality of spaced apart link members fixed with respect to said seat member for supporting said seat member a plurality spaced apart locations on said guide means.

6. The seat-bed assembly according to claim 5 wherein said bracket is directly attached to one of said link members.

7. The seat-bed assembly according to claim 1 wherein said seat member includes a rearward extension and said first portion of said linkage means is fixedly connected to said seat member beneath said rearward extension.

8. The seat-bed assembly according to claim 7 wherein said back member includes a support element engagable with said rearward extension when said seat-bed assembly is in the bed position for supporting said back member against further vertical movement.

9. A seat-bed assembly convertible between at least a seating position and a bed position, comprising:

a seat member having an upper surface and a lower surface and including a seat support element connected to said lower surface;

said seat support element extending rearwardly beyond said seat member;

a back member having a front and a rear surface and including a back support element connected to said rear surface;

a frame member for supporting said seat and back members, said seat and back members being movably mounted with respect to said frame member between the seating and bed positions;

a linkage means for moving said seat member and said back member in coordination between the seating and bed positions;

said linkage means being fixedly connected to said seat support element, slidably connected to said frame member, and pivotably connected to said back support element; and

a support projection means attached to said rear surface for engagement with said rearward extension of said seat support element to restrict further vertical movement of said back member in the bed position.

10. A seat-bed assembly for use in motor vehicles, comprising:

a frame means for supporting said seat-bed assembly, said frame means being fixed with respect to the vehicle;

a first body supporting member slidably mounted with respect to said frame means;

a second body supporting member movably mounted with respect to said frame means;

linkage means for controlling relative movement of said first and second body supporting members;

said linkage means including a first portion fixedly connected to said first body supporting member and a second portion pivotally connected to said second body supporting member;

said first and second portions being pivotally connected;

said frame means including guide means for receiving and retaining said first portion along a predetermined path;

said guide means comprising a single track on at least one side of the frame member;

said first portion being connected to said frame means through said guide means so as to restrict sliding movement of said first body supporting member to a path substantially parallel to said predetermined path of said guide means;

said first portion of said linkage means including at least first and second spaced-apart link members for retaining said first body supporting member within said guide means, whereby said first body supporting member is supported by said first and second links engaging said guide means thereby absorbing both compressive forces and tensile forces.

11. A motorizing kit for vehicular mounted seat-bed assemblies having a seat supporting frame with left and right side members and a bridging member therebetween, a seat member, a back member and a linkage means connected to said frame, said seat member and said back member to control relative movement of said seat member and said back member, comprising:

a drive motor adapted to be mounted to said bridging member;

first rotational drive member adapted to be mounted on said left side member;

second rotational drive member adapted to be mounted on said right side member;

first drive transmitting cable adapted to be mounted between said drive motor and said first rotational drive member;

second drive transmitting cable adapted to be mounted between said drive motor and said second rotational drive member;

first and second threaded rods adapted to be mounted for rotation in said first and second rotational drive members, respectively; and

first and second drive nut means adapted to be mounted directly to said linkage means for receiving said first and second threaded rods, respectively.

12. A seat-bed assembly convertible between at least a seating position and a bed position, comprising:

a seat member;

a back member;

a frame member having guide means therein;

said guide means comprising a single track on at least one side of the frame member;

linkage means for synchronizing movement of said seat member and said back member between said seating and said bed positions;

said linkage means including a first portion fixedly connected to said seat member and slidably connected to said guide means;

said linkage means also including a second portion pivotably connected to said back member and slidably connected to said guide means;

said first portion of said linkage means being disposed so as to restrict movement of said seat member to a path substantially parallel to said guide means; and

drive means mounted on said frame member and connected to said linkage means for controlling said movement of said seat member and said back member;

said drive means includes a gear drive, a drive screw and a drive nut, said gear drive being mounted on said frame member, said drive nut being mounted in a bracket directly attached to one of said link members and fixed with respect to said first portion of said linkage means, and said drive screw being operably supported by said gear drive and said drive nut and spanning the distance therebetween;

said linkage means includes a plurality of spaced apart link members fixed with respect to said seat member for supporting said seat member by a plurality spaced apart locations on said guide means.

13. A seat-bed assembly convertible between at least a seating position and a bed position, comprising:

a seat member;

a back member;

a frame member having guide means therein;

said guide means comprising a single track on at least one side of the frame member;

linkage means for synchronizing movement of said seat member and said back member between said seating and said bed positions; and

drive means mounting on said frame member and connecting to said linkage means for controlling said movement of said seat member and said back member;

said linkage means including a first link fixedly connected to said seat member and slidably connected to said guide means;

said linkage means also including a second link pivotably connected to said first link and pivotably connected to said back member;

said linkage means further including a third link fixedly connected to said seat member and slidably connected to said guide means;

said first and third link of said linkage means being disposed so as to restrict movement of said seat member to a path substantially parallel to said guide means and to partially support said seat member;

said seat member including a rearward extension and said first link of said linkage means is fixedly connected to said seat member beneath said rearward extension;

said back member including a support element engagable with said rearward extension when said seat-bed assembly is in the bed position for supporting said back member against further vertical movement.

14. A seat-bed assembly, comprising:

a seat member;

a back member;

a frame member having a guide means therein;

said guide means comprising a single track on at least one side of the frame member;

a linkage means connecting said seat member, said back member, and said frame member;

said guide means also retaining said back member to said frame member; and

a double roller means for restricting movement of said seat member to a plane of travel substantially parallel to said guide means;

said double roller means including at least two links with rollers on one end engagable with said guide means and fixedly connected to said seat member on the other end to partially support said seat member both in the seat and bed positions and during conversion from a seat to a bed.

15. The seat-bed of claim 14 wherein said double roller means connects to said linkage means at a rearward extension of said seat member.