Multipurpose convertible furniture assembly

• US 5,315,726 A
• Filed: 09/15/1992
• Issued: 05/31/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Martin Borenstein
• Original Assignee: Martin Borenstein
• Inventors: Borenstein, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Saether, Flemming
• Application Number:
  US07/945,152
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 5/618, 5/619, 5/501, 5/482, 5/485, 5/507.1, 297/161, 297/173, 297/362.11, 297/378.1, 297/378.12, 297/397, 297/408, 297/355, 297/354.13, 297/423.3
• US Class Current: 5/618
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2083/025 Computer workstation with integrated seat
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 19/22 Combinations of bedsteads with other furniture or with accessories, e.g. with bedside cabinets bed-tables A47B23/00 ; bedside cabinets A47B79/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 20/041 by electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/008 Use of remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/00 Beds specially adapted for nursing; Devices for lifting patients or disabled persons stretchers with facilities for picking up patients or disabled persons A61G1/003

Abstract

A convertible furniture assembly for use on a support surface by one or two humans with backs and buttocks. The assembly includes a framework adapted to rest upon the support surface and first and second sections with proximal and distal end portions disposed on the framework. Hinge assemblies forming a pivot interconnect the proximal end portions so that the first and second sections form buttocks and back supports respectively for the humans. Arm assemblies are mounted on the framework for raising and lowering the distal end portions of the sections independent of each other about the pivot of the hinge assemblies. The sections can be moved from a coplanar and substantially horizontal position resting upon the framework, where they can form at least a part of a bed, to positions at which they are disposed at an angle with respect to each other, where they form at least a part of a lounge. A table is supported by the framework in an elevated position with respect the first section and is movable between a first position overlying the first section and a second out-of-the-way position that is not overlying the first section. The table can serve as a nightstand and a sheet and a slipcover are provided for use when the furniture assembly is converted to a bed. Serving trays and a worktable are provided for converting the furniture assembly to a dining or eating arrangement and to a desk. The furniture assembly includes a reversible central cushion which can be used with other furniture pieces.

Claims

1. A furniture assembly for use on a support surface by a human comprising a framework adapted to rest upon the support surface, seat and back support sections overlying the framework and having adjacent proximal and spaced-apart distal end portions, an elongated cushion disposed simultaneously on both the support sections and having a thickness, hinge means supported by the framework forming a pivot axis interconnecting the adjacent end portions of said seat and back support sections, said pivot axis being disposed above the framework and said support sections such that it extends transversely through the cushion in a position which is within the thickness of the cushion at all times so as to be generally aligned with the hip joint of the human, and means mounted on the framework for raising and lowering the distal end portions of the seat and back support sections independent of each other about the pivot axis of the hinge means.

2. The furniture assembly of claim 1 together with a head support section for supporting the head of the human and means for pivotally connecting the distal end portion of the back support section to the head support section.

3. The furniture assembly of claim 2 wherein the means for pivotally connecting the back support section to the head support section includes means for adjusting the angular position of the head support section with respect to the back support section.

4. The furniture assembly of claim 2 wherein said furniture assembly is for use by two humans and wherein said head support section is formed in two separately movable parts, one part for each head of the two humans.

5. The furniture assembly of claim 1 together with a head support section carried by the back support section, a head rest movably disposed on the head support section and weight means connected to the head rest and extending and hanging over the head support section so as to serve as a counterbalance to the head rest, the weight means frictionally engaging the head support section so as to retain the head rest in a position to which it is moved.

6. The furniture assembly of claim 1 together with a calf support section for supporting the calves of the human and means for pivotally connecting the distal end portion of the seat support section to the calf support section.

7. The furniture assembly of claim 6 wherein the means for pivotally connecting the seat support section to the calf support section includes means for adjusting the angular position of the calf support section with respect to the seat support section.

8. The furniture assembly of claim 6 wherein means is provided by the framework for retaining the calf support section in a position coplanar with the seat support section when the seat support section is lowered to a horizontal position.

9. The furniture assembly of claim 6 wherein said furniture assembly is for use by two humans and wherein said calf support section is formed in two separately movable parts, one part provided for each of the calves of one human.

10. The furniture assembly of claim 1 together with means for controlling the raising and lowering of the distal end portions of the seat and back support sections which is accessible to the human when the human is being supported by the seat and back support sections.

11. The furniture assembly of claim 10 together with a table and means for mounting the table to the framework so that it is movable between a first position overlying the first section and a second out-of-the-way position not overlying the first section, the control means including cable means to permit placement of the control means in a first position on the movable table and in a second position away from the furniture assembly.

12. The furniture assembly of claim 10 wherein the control means includes a first switch for raising and lowering the distal end portion of the seat support section, a second switch for raising and lowering the distal end portion of the back support section, and a safety switch which must be engaged to permit lowering of either support section.

13. The furniture assembly of claim 1 together with an armrest mounted on each side of the framework for use by the human.

14. The furniture assembly of claim 13 wherein said armrests are pivotally mounted to the framework.

15. The furniture assembly of claim 1 wherein the seat and back support sections each have first and second opposite sides and wherein the hinge means includes first and second hinge assemblies disposed on the opposite sides of the seat and back support sections.

16. The furniture assembly of claim 15 wherein each hinge assembly includes a single removable interconnecting member.

17. The furniture assembly of claim 15 wherein the pivot axis is disposed in line with an imaginary line extending transversely through the cushion in a position which is generally at the midpoint of the thickness of the cushion.

18. The furniture assembly of claim 1 wherein the hinge means interconnecting the proximal end portions of the seat and back support sections includes a hinge assembly which interconnects the support sections and the framework at the pivot of the hinge means with a single interconnecting member.

19. The furniture assembly of claim 1 wherein the means mounted on the framework for independently raising and lowering the distal end portions of the seat and back support sections includes an arm for each of the support sections with a proximal end pivotally coupled to the framework and a distal end slidably engaging the respective support section and motive means for causing pivotal movement of the arm to cause pivotal movement of the respective support section.

20. The furniture assembly of claim 19 wherein said motive means includes an electric motor and remote control means for operating the motor.

21. The furniture assembly of claim 19 wherein the framework is generally rectangular in plan and includes for each support section an elongate cross member rotatably mounted to the framework and having two aligned arms joined thereto in spaced apart position for engaging the support section.

22. The furniture assembly of claim 21 together with a motor mounted on the framework, means for coupling the motor to the cross member to cause rotation of the cross member in one direction for raising the distal end portion of the respective support section and rotation of the cross member in an opposite direction for lowering the distal end portion of the support section.

23. The furniture assembly in claim 1 wherein the cushion has first and second opposite surfaces and is reversible so that one of the surfaces is facing upwardly.

24. The furniture assembly of claim 23 wherein the cushion can be used with other furniture pieces.

25. The furniture assembly of claim 1 wherein the seat and back sections can be lowered to a coplanar position for converting the furniture assembly to a bed.

26. The furniture assembly of claim 1 wherein the furniture assembly has a width sufficient to support two humans on the furniture assembly.

27. A furniture assembly as in claim 1 together with a table, means for mounting the table to the framework so that it is movable between a first position overlying the seat support section and a second out-of-the-way position not overlying the seat support section.

28. The furniture assembly of claim 27 wherein the means for mounting the table on the framework includes an arm pivotally coupled to the framework.

29. The furniture assembly of claim 28 wherein the framework has an arm socket joined thereon in an upright position, the arm socket provided with a bore which is circular in cross section, and wherein the arm has a first end portion which includes a substantially vertical tube, the tube disposed in the bore and thereby concentrically carried by the arm socket to permit pivoting of the arm with respect to the framework in a substantially horizontal plane.

30. The furniture assembly of claim 29 wherein the tube is provided with a plurality of transversely aligned adjustment bores and the arm socket has an upper surface, an adjustment member carried by an adjustment bore and protruding therefrom to bear on the upper surface and movable to another adjustment bore to raise or lower the height of the table with respect to the support surface.

31. The furniture assembly of claim 28 wherein the arm is formed from first and second sections, the first arm section pivotally coupled to the framework and the second arm section pivotally coupled to the first arm section, the first and second arm sections pivoting in substantially parallel horizontal planes.

32. The furniture assembly of claim 31 wherein the first arm section has a second end portion which includes a substantially vertical receptacle which is tubular in conformation and wherein the second arm section has a first end portion which includes a substantially vertical tube, the tube concentrically carried by the receptacle to permit pivoting of the second arm section with respect to the first arm section.

33. The furniture assembly of claim 28 wherein the means for mounting the table to the framework includes means for pivotally coupling the table to the arm.

34. The furniture assembly of claim 33 wherein the means for pivotally coupling the table to the arm includes clamping means to permit the table to pivot in substantially two orthogonal axes with respect to the arm.

35. The furniture assembly of claim 33 wherein the table and the arm pivot in substantially parallel planes.

36. The furniture assembly of claim 27 together with a serving tray mounted on the table for converting the furniture assembly into a dining arrangement, the serving tray removable from the table for use on an elevated surface.

37. The furniture assembly of claim 36 wherein the table is substantially rectangular in plan and has first and second opposite sides and wherein the serving tray is substantially rectangular in plan and has opposite side sections with substantially aligned portions thereon which cooperatively extend past the first and second opposite sides of the table to secure the tray thereon and serve as legs for supporting the serving tray on the elevated surface.

38. The furniture assembly of claim 36 wherein the serving tray includes a supplemental tray, means for removably mounting the supplemental tray in an elevated position above the serving tray.

39. The furniture assembly of claim 27 together with a worktable having a surface with a substantial area removably mounted on the table for converting the furniture assembly into a desk.

40. The furniture assembly of claim 39 wherein the worktable has central and arm portions and includes means for pivotally connecting the arm portion to the central portion.

41. The furniture assembly of claim 40 wherein the worktable includes a means for retaining the arm portion in a home position coplanar with the central portion.

42. The furniture assembly of claim 41 wherein the means for mounting the table to the framework includes an arm pivotally coupled to the framework and means for pivotally coupling the table to the arm, whereby pivoting of the table and worktable with respect to the arm causes the arm portion of the worktable to engage the arm and pivot with respect to the central portion of the worktable to a substantially horizontal position.

43. The furniture assembly of claim 27 wherein the table has a surface and includes a block movable from a first position where the block does not protrude from the surface and a second position where block does protrude from the surface for supporting objects on the table.

44. The furniture assembly of claim 43 wherein the table includes means for locking the block in the first position.

45. The furniture assembly of claim 27 together with a second table mounted to the framework, means for coupling the tables together.

46. The furniture assembly of claim 45 wherein the tables each have a surface which is substantially coplanar with the other when the tables are coupled together.

47. The furniture assembly of claim 27 for use by two humans with backs and seats, wherein the seat and back support sections are disposed on the framework to form seat and back supports respectively for the two humans.

48. The furniture assembly of claim 27 wherein the seat and back support sections can be lowered to a coplanar position for converting the furniture assembly to a bed.

49. A convertible furniture assembly for use on a horizontal support surface by a human, the convertible furniture assembly comprising a framework adapted to rest upon the support surface, upper and lower wing sections overlying the framework for supporting the upper and lower body portions of the human and having adjacent respective back and seat support sections for supporting the back and seat of the human an elongated cushion disposed simultaneously on both the wing sections and having a thickness, first hinge means supported by the framework forming a pivot axis interconnecting the back and seat support sections, said pivot axis extending transversely through the thickness of the cushion at all times and generally corresponding to the hip joints of the human, and first and second lifting and lowering means carried by the framework for respectively raising the back and seat support sections to a first position above the framework so that the upper and lower wing sections are suspended thereabove for use as part of a lounge and have the profile of the wings of a sea gull in flight, the upper wing section including a head support section for supporting the head of the human and second hinge means carried by the back support section forming a pivot axis interconnecting the back and head support sections and generally corresponding to the neck of the human, means carried by the back support section for adjusting the angular position of the head support section about the second hinge means and thereby determining the shape of the upper wing section, the lower wing section including a calf support section for supporting the claves of the human and third hinge means carried by the seat support section forming a pivot axis interconnecting the seat and calf support sections and generally corresponding to the knees of the human, means carried by the seat support section for adjusting the angular position of the calf support section about the third hinge means and thereby determining the shape of the lower wing section, the first and second lifting and lowering means permitting the upper and lower wing sections to be lowered to a second position on the framework so as to provide a generally horizontal surface on which the human can lie.

50. The convertible furniture assembly of claim 49 wherein the upper and lower wing sections are sized to support two humans with heads, backs, seat and calves.

51. The convertible furniture assembly of claim 50 wherein the calf support section is formed in two separate parts, one part for the claves of each human.

52. The convertible furniture assembly of claim 50 wherein the head section is formed in two separate parts, one part for the head of each human.

53. The convertible furniture assembly of claim 49 together with a pillow movably disposed on the head section and weight means connect to the pillow and extending and hanging over the head section so as to serve as a counterbalance to the pillow, the weight means frictionally engaging the head section so as to retain the pillow in a position to which it is moved.

54. The convertible furniture assembly of claim 49 together with a sheet covering the wing sections and a pillow disposed on the sheet, the sheet having a flap at one end which folds over the pillow.

55. The convertible furniture assembly of claim 54 together with weight means connected to the pillow which extends and hangs over the sheet so as to serve as a counterbalance to the pillow, the weight means frictionally engaging the sheet so as to retain the pillow in a position to which it is moved, the flap in the sheet being provided with a hole through which the weight means extends.

56. The convertible furniture assembly of claim 49 together with a slipcover adapted to enclose a bed covering, the slipcover having first and second sections for enclosing the bed covering therein, the second section being provided with an opening to permit the bed covering to be inserted and removed and having a strap thereacross for adding support to the slipcover.

57. The convertible furniture assembly of claim 56 wherein the opening in the slipcover is substantially in the center of the second section and is of significant size to permit viewing of the bed covering when inserted in the slipcover.

58. The convertible furniture assembly of claim 56 wherein the slipcover has a perimeter provided with a hole therein to permit access to the bed covering.

59. The convertible furniture assembly of claim 49 together with a table and means for mounting the table to the framework so that it is movable between a first position overlying the lower wing section and a second out-of-the-way position not overlying the lower wing section.