Sofa having reclining section and foldable bed

• US 5,740,564 A
• Filed: 01/28/1997
• Issued: 04/21/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ufi Ip, LLC
• Original Assignee: Action Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Foster, Lance, Hankins, J. Doug
• Primary Examiner(s): TRETTEL, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US08/789,279
• Time in Patent Office: 448 Days
• Field of Search: 5/2.1, 5/13, 5/12.1, 297/232, D 6/335, D 6/383
• US Class Current: 5/12.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/0355 actuated by linkages, e.g. lazy-tongs mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 17/225 with hidden separate full size mattress frame unfolded out of the base frame

Abstract

A furniture piece comprises: a sofa frame; a plurality of seating sections connected to and associated with the sofa frame, one of which is a reclining seating section; and a foldable bed. The configuration described hereinabove provides both reclining seat and sleeping capability, and does so in the same furniture piece.

Claims

1. A unit of furniture comprising:

a sofa frame;

a plurality of seating sections connected to and associated with said sofa frame, each of said seating sections including a corresponding generally horizontally disposed seat portion and a corresponding generally upright backrest portion positioned above said seat section;

a first one of said plurality of seating sections being a reclining seating section which includes a reclining mechanism attached to said sofa frame, said seat portion and said backrest portion of said first seating section, said reclining mechanism being configured to move said seat portion and said backrest portion between upright and reclined positions, wherein in the upright position, said backrest portion defines a first angle relative to an underlying surface, and in said reclined position, said backrest portion is reclined relative to said sofa frame to define a second angle relative to the underlying surface that is less than said first angle; and

a foldable bed comprising a bed frame, a mattress, and a folding mechanism, said folding mechanism being attached to said bed frame and connected with said sofa frame, said bed frame comprising serially interconnected body, cavity, and seat sections, said folding mechanism being configured to move said bed frame between folded and unfolded positions, wherein in the unfolded position, said body, cavity and seat sections are generally horizontally disposed and aligned and are positioned to support said mattress, and in the folded position, said seat and body sections are generally horizontally disposed, said cavity section is generally vertically disposed between said body and seat sections, and said mattress is folded upon itself;

said foldable bed being positioned in the folded position beneath at least a second one of said plurality of seating sections.

2. The unit of furniture defined in claim 1, wherein said unit of furniture comprises a three-section sofa.

3. The unit of furniture defined in claim 1, wherein said foldable bed resides beneath two of said plurality of seating sections when said foldable bed is in the folded position.

4. The unit of furniture defined in claim 1, wherein said reclining mechanism is a wall-avoiding mechanism that is configured such that, as said reclining seating section moves to a reclined position, said backrest of said reclining seating section moves such that a top edge thereof moves rearwardly relative to said sofa frame between 0 and 4 inches.

5. The unit of furniture defined in claim 1, wherein said backrest of said second seating section is stationary relative to said sofa frame.

6. The unit of furniture defined in claim 1, wherein said bed frame comprises a head section pivotally interconnected with said body section, and wherein in the unfolded position, said head section is generally horizontally disposed and aligned with said body, cavity, and seat sections, and wherein in the folded position, said head section is generally upright and positioned beneath said backrest of said second seating section.

7. The unit of furniture defined in claim 1, wherein said first seating section further includes a recliner frame that comprises a rear wall and first and second side walls mounted thereto, and also further includes a second reclining mechanism, and wherein each of said reclining mechanisms is mounted to a respective said first and second side walls such that said recliner frame moves forwardly relative to said sofa frame as said first seating section moves from the upright position to a reclined position.

8. The seating unit defined in claim 7, wherein said first seating section further comprises a footrest panel connected to said reclining mechanisms, and wherein in the upright position, said footrest panel is generally upright and beneath a front edge of said seat portion, and in said reclined position, said footrest panel is spaced apart from said seat portion and is generally horizontally disposed so that it serves as a footrest to a seated occupant.

9. The unit of furniture defined in claim 1, further comprising an armrest at each lateral end thereof.

10. A unit of furniture comprising:

a sofa frame;

a plurality of seating sections connected to and associated with said sofa frame, each of said seating sections including a corresponding generally horizontally disposed seat portion and a corresponding generally upright backrest portion positioned above said seat section;

a first one of said plurality of seating sections being a reclining seating section which includes a reclining mechanism attached to said sofa frame, said seat portion and said backrest portion of said first seating section, said reclining mechanism being a zero-wall proximity mechanism configured to move said seat portion and said backrest portion between upright and reclined positions, wherein in the upright position, said backrest portion defines a first angle relative to an underlying surface, and in said reclined position, said seat portion has moved forwardly, and said backrest portion has moved to a reclined orientation relative to the underlying surface that defines a second angle that is greater than the first angle, and also moves such that a top edge thereof moves rearwardly relative to said sofa frame between about 0 and 4 inches; and

a foldable bed comprising a bed frame, a mattress, and a folding mechanism, said folding mechanism being attached to said bed frame and connected with said sofa frame, said bed frame comprising serially interconnected body, cavity, and seat sections, said folding mechanism being configured to move said bed frame between folded and unfolded positions, wherein in the unfolded position, said body, cavity and seat sections are generally horizontally disposed and aligned and are positioned to support said mattress, and in the folded position, said seat and body sections are generally horizontally disposed, and said cavity section is generally vertically disposed between said body and seat sections, and said mattress is folded upon itself;

said foldable bed being positioned in the folded position beneath at least a second one of said plurality of seating sections, said second seating section having a backrest that is stationary relative to said sofa section.

11. The unit of furniture defined in claim 10, wherein said backrest of said second seating section is stationary relative to said sofa frame.

12. The unit of furniture defined in claim 10, wherein said unit of furniture comprises a three-section sofa.

13. The unit of furniture defined in claim 10, wherein said foldable bed resides beneath two of said plurality of seating sections when said foldable bed is in the folded position.

14. The unit of furniture defined in claim 10, wherein said bed frame comprises a head section pivotally interconnected with said body section, and wherein in the unfolded position, said head section is generally horizontally disposed and aligned with said body, cavity, and seat sections, and wherein in the folded position, said head section is generally upright and positioned beneath said backrest of said second seating section.

15. The unit of furniture defined in claim 10, wherein said first seating section further includes a recliner frame that comprises a rear wall and first and second side walls mounted thereto, and also further includes a second reclining mechanism, and wherein each of said reclining mechanisms is mounted to a respective said first and second side walls such that said recliner frame moves forwardly relative to said sofa frame as said first seating section moves from the upright position to a reclined position.

16. The seating unit defined in claim 15, wherein said reclining seating section further comprises a footrest panel connected to said reclining mechanisms, and wherein in the upright position, said footrest panel is generally upright and beneath a front edge of said seat portion, and in said reclined position, said footrest panel is spaced apart from said seat portion and is generally horizontally disposed so that it serves as a footrest to a seated occupant.

17. The unit of furniture defined in claim 10, wherein said further comprising an armrest at each lateral end thereof.

18. A unit of furniture comprising:

a sofa frame;

a plurality of seating sections connected to and associated with said sofa frame, each of said seating sections including a corresponding generally horizontally disposed seat portion and a corresponding generally upright backrest portion positioned above said seat section;

a first one of said plurality of seating sections being a reclining seating section which includes a reclining mechanism attached to said sofa frame, said seat portion and said backrest portion of said first seating section, said reclining mechanism being configured to move said seat portion and said backrest portion between upright and reclined positions, wherein in the upright position, said backrest portion defines a first angle relative to an underlying surface, and in said reclined position, said backrest portion is reclined relative to said sofa frame to define a second angle relative to the underlying surface that is less than said first angle; and

a foldable bed comprising a bed frame, a mattress, and a folding mechanism, said folding mechanism being attached to said bed frame and connected with said sofa frame, said bed frame comprising serially interconnected body, cavity, and seat sections, said folding mechanism being configured to move said bed frame between folded and unfolded positions, wherein in the unfolded position, said body, cavity and seat sections are generally horizontally disposed and aligned and are positioned to support said mattress, and in the folded position, said seat and body sections are generally horizontally disposed, and said cavity section is generally vertically disposed between said body and seat sections, and said mattress is folded upon itself;

said foldable bed being positioned in the folded position beneath at least a second one of said plurality of seating sections, and said second seating section being stationary relative to said sofa frame.

19. The unit of furniture defined in claim 18, wherein said unit of furniture comprises a three-section sofa.

20. The unit of furniture defined in claim 18, wherein said foldable bed resides beneath two of said plurality of seating sections when said foldable bed is in the folded position.

21. The unit of furniture defined in claim 18, wherein said bed frame comprises a head section pivotally interconnected with said body section, and wherein in the unfolded position, said head section is generally horizontally disposed and aligned with said body, cavity, and seat sections, and wherein in the folded position, said head section is generally upright and positioned beneath said backrest of said second seating section.

22. The unit of furniture defined in claim 18, wherein said first seating section further includes a recliner frame that comprises a rear wall and first and second side walls mounted thereto, and also further includes a second reclining mechanism, and wherein each of said reclining mechanisms is mounted to a respective said first and second side walls such that said recliner frame moves forwardly relative to said sofa frame as said first seating section moves from the upright position to a reclined position.

23. The seating unit defined in claim 22, wherein said reclining seating section further comprises a footrest panel connected to said reclining mechanisms, and wherein in the upright position, said footrest panel is generally upright and beneath a front edge of said seat portion, and in said reclined position, said footrest panel is spaced apart from said seat portion and is generally horizontally disposed so that it serves as a footrest to a seated occupant.

24. The unit of furniture defined in claim 18, further comprising an armrest at each lateral end thereof.

25. A unit of furniture comprising:

a sofa frame;

a trio of seating sections associated with said sofa frame, each of said seating sections including a corresponding generally horizontally disposed seat portion and a corresponding generally upright backrest portion positioned above said seat section;

a first one of said trio of seating sections being a reclining seating section which includes a reclining mechanism attached to said sofa frame, said seat portion and said backrest portion of said first seating section, said reclining mechanism being configured to move said seat portion and said backrest portion between upright and reclined positions, wherein in the upright position, said backrest portion defines a first angle relative to an underlying surface, and in said reclined position, said backrest portion is reclined relative to said sofa frame to define a second angle relative to the underlying surface that is less than said first angle; and

a foldable bed comprising a bed frame, a mattress, and a folding mechanism, said folding mechanism being attached to said bed frame and connected with said sofa frame, said bed frame comprising serially interconnected body, cavity, and seat sections, said folding mechanism being configured to move said bed frame between folded and unfolded positions, wherein the unfolded position, said body, cavity and seat sections are generally horizontally disposed and aligned and are positioned to support said mattress, and in the folded position, said seat and body sections are generally horizontally disposed, and said cavity section is generally vertically disposed between said body and seat sections, and said mattress is folded upon itself;

said foldable bed being positioned in the folded position in a cavity in said sofa frame located beneath at a second and a third one of said trio of seating sections.

26. The unit of furniture defined in claim 25, wherein said reclining mechanism is a wall-avoiding mechanism that is configured such that, as said reclining seating section moves to a reclined position, said backrest of said reclining seating section moves such that a top edge thereof moves rearwardly relative to said sofa frame between 0 and 4 inches.

27. The unit of furniture defined in claim 25, wherein said bed frame comprises a head section pivotally interconnected with said body section, and wherein in the unfolded position, said head section is generally horizontally disposed and aligned with said body, cavity, and seat sections, and wherein in the folded position, said head section is generally upright and positioned beneath said backrest of said second seating section.

28. The unit of furniture defined in claim 25, wherein said first seating section further includes a recliner frame that comprises a rear wall and first and second side walls mounted thereto and also further includes a second reclining mechanism, and wherein each of said reclining mechanisms is mounted to a respective said first and second side walls such that said recliner frame moves forwardly relative to said sofa frame as said first seating section moves from the upright position to a reclined position.

29. The seating unit defined in claim 28, wherein said reclining seating section further comprises a footrest panel connected to said reclining mechanisms, and wherein in the upright position, said front wall is generally upright and beneath a front edge of said seat portion, and in said reclined position, said front wall is spaced apart from said seat portion and is generally horizontally disposed so that it serves as a footrest to a seated occupant.

30. The unit of furniture defined in claim 25, further comprising an armrest at each lateral end thereof.

31. A base frame for a furniture piece, comprising:

a pair of generally parallel and spaced-apart base rails;

a pair of generally parallel brackets fixed to and extending between said base rails, each of said brackets being spaced apart from each other and including a plurality of apertures, said apertures being positioned relative to each other to receive a reclining mechanism for a reclining seating unit; and

a pair of generally parallel side walls fixed to and extending between said base rails, each of said side walls being sized, configured and positioned from each other to receive a folding mechanism for a foldable bed.