Chair with pull out sleep surface

• US 6,588,837 B1
• Filed: 11/01/2000
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Schultz, Scott A., Fagan, G. Brent
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARRIS, STEPHANIE N
• Application Number:
  US09/704,075
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• Field of Search: 297/111, 297/124, 297/125, 297/126, 297/118, 297/236, 297/370.1, 297/188.09, 297/188.1, 297/378.1, 5 1/7, 5/91, 5 1/81, 5 2/1, 5 4/7, 5 5/8, 5 4/5
• US Class Current: 297/111
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 17/165 with forward tiltable back-rest, e.g. back cushion
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 17/207 with seat cushion consisting of multiple superposed parts, at least one lower hidden part being used to form part of the bed surface

Abstract

A chair is adapted to form a sitting surface and a sleeping surface and comprises a chair back and a seat. The chair back and seat are relatively movable to form the sitting surface and the sleeping surface.

In the event that there are any questions related to this amendment or to the application in general, the undersigned would appreciate the opportunity to address those questions directly in a telephone interview to expedite the prosecution of this application for all concerned.

Claims

1. A chair adapted to form a sitting surface and a sleeping surface comprising

a frame,

a chair back coupled to the frame and movable from a generally upright back-supporting position to a generally horizontal position, and

a seat coupled to the frame and movable away from the chair back so that when the chair back is moved to the generally horizontal position, the chair back and the seat are positioned in alignment and cooperate to form a generally horizontal sleeping surface, wherein the chair back in the upright back-supporting position has a convex upper end and an end of the seat positioned under the chair back has a concave end, the convex upper end of the chair back movable to a generally horizontal position to both align and conformingly fit the concave end of the seat when the seat is moved away from the chair back to form a portion of the generally horizontal sleeping surface.

2. The chair of claim 1 wherein the chair includes a lock coupled below the seat to the frame to releasably lock the seat adjacent the chair back to provide a sitting surface.

3. The chair of claim 2 wherein the lock is connected to a support frame below the seat, the lock including a ramp with a detent formed therein, the frame including a retainer having a roller which is releasably retained in the detent when the chair is in a locked position forming the sitting position.

4. A chair adapted to form a sleeping surface comprising

a frame,

a chair back coupled to the frame, and

a seat coupled to the frame, the seat being movable away from the chair back, the chair back being movable to a generally horizontal position to cooperate with the seat to provide a sleeping surface, wherein the chair back in a generally upright position has a convex upper end and an end of the seat positioned under the chair back has a concave end, the convex upper end of the chair back movable to a generally horizontal position to both align and conformingly fit the concave end of the seat when the seat is moved away from the chair back.

5. The chair of claim 4, wherein the chair back is mounted to the frame permitting the chair back to pivotably move to its generally upright and generally horizontal positions.

6. The chair of claim 4 wherein the chair includes a lock coupled below the seat to the frame to releasably lock the seat adjacent the chair back to provide a sitting surface.

7. The chair of claim 6 wherein the lock is connected to a support frame below the seat, the lock including a ramp with a detent formed therein, the frame including a retainer having a roller which is releasably retained in the detent when the chair is in a locked position forming the sitting position.

8. A chair adapted to form both a sitting surface and a sleeping surface comprising

a frame,

a chair back coupled to the frame and having an upright position and movable to a lowered position, and

a seat coupled to the frame to cooperate with the chair back to provide a sitting surface in front of the chair back when the chair back is in the generally upright position, the seat being movable forwardly to cooperate with the chair back moved into the lowered position to form a sleeping surface, wherein the chair back in its upright position has a convex upper end and an end of the seat positioned under the chair back has a concave end, the convex upper end of the chair back movable to the lowered position to both align and conformingly fit the concave end of the seat when the seat is moved away from the chair back.

9. The chair of claim 8, wherein the chair back is mounted to the frame permitting the chair back to pivotably move to its upright and lowered positions.

10. The chair of claim 8 wherein the chair includes a lock coupled below the seat to the frame to releasably lock the seat adjacent the chair back to provide a sitting surface.

11. The chair of claim 10 wherein the lock is connected to a support frame below the seat, the lock including a ramp with a detent formed therein, the frame including a retainer having a roller which is releasably retained in the detent when the chair is in a locked position forming the sitting position.

12. A chair adapted to form a sitting surface and a sleeping surface comprising

a frame,

a chair back coupled to the frame and movable between generally upright and generally horizontal positions, the chair back including in its generally upright position a bottom end,

a seat coupled to the frame and movable away from the bottom end of the chair back during transition of the chair from providing a sitting surface to providing a generally horizontal sleeping surface, and

a leg support coupled to the frame and positioned underneath the seat and movable out from under the seat when the seat is moved away from the bottom end of the chair back, the chair back moved from the generally upright position to the generally horizontal position, and the chair back, the scat and the leg support positioned in alignment and cooperating to form the generally horizontal sleeping surface with the chair back abutting the seat and the seat abutting the leg support.

13. The chair of claim 12 wherein the chair includes a lock coupled to a support frame and the frame to releaseably lock the seat adjacent the chair back to provide a sitting surface.

14. The chair of claim 13 wherein the lock includes a ramp with a detent formed therein, the frame including a retainer having a roller which is releasably retained in the detent when the chair is in a locked position forming the sitting position.

15. A chair adapted to form a sitting surface and a sleeping surface comprising

a frame,

a chair back coupled to the frame and movable between generally upright and generally horizontal positions,

a seat coupled the frame and movable away from the chair back, and

a leg support coupled to the frame and positioned underneath the seat and movable out from under the seat when the seat is moved away from the chair back, the chair back moved form a generally upright position to a generally horizontal position, and the chair back, the seat and the leg support positioned in alignment and cooperating to form a generally horizontal sleeping surface with the chair back abutting the seat and the seat abutting, the leg support, wherein the chair back in its upright position has a convex upper end and an end of the seat positioned under the chair back has a concave end, the convex upper end of the chair back moved to the generally horizontal position to both align and conformingly fit the concave end of the seat when the seat is moved away from the chair back.

16. The chair of claim 15, wherein the chair back is mounted to the frame permitting the chair back to pivotably move to its generally upright and generally horizontal positions.

17. The chair of claim 15 wherein the chair includes a lock coupled below the seat to the frame to releasably lock the seat adjacent the chair back to provide a sitting surface.

18. The chair of claim 17 wherein the lock is connected to a support frame below the seat, the lock including a ramp with a detent formed therein, the frame including a retainer having a roller which is releasably retained in the detent when the chair is in a locked position forming the sitting position.

19. A chair adapted to form a sleeping surface comprising

a frame,

a chair back positioned in an upright position having a convex upper end and coupled to the frame, and

a seat having a concave end positioned under the chair back and coupled to the frame, the seat being movable away from the chair back and the chair back being movable to a generally horizontal position such that the convex upper end conformingly fits against the concave end of the seat to cooperate with the seat to provide a sleeping surface.

20. The chair of claim 19, wherein the seat includes a middle bed assembly positioned beneath the seat and a lower bed assembly is positioned underneath the seat when the chair is positioned to form a sitting surface, the lower bed assembly being coupled to the middle bed assembly and movable away from the seat and the chair back, the lower bed assembly including a leg support movable upwardly when the lower bed assembly moves away from the seat such that the leg support is moved into an alignment with the seat of the middle bed assembly to form a portion of the sleeping surface.

21. The chair of claim 20, wherein the chair back abuts the seat and the seat abuts the leg support to form the sleeping surface.

22. The chair of claim 19, wherein a shelf is positioned behind the chair back such that the shelf is hidden when the chair back is in a generally upright position and the shelf is visible and accessible when the chair back is in a generally horizontal position.

23. The chair of claim 19, wherein the chair back is mounted to the frame permitting the chair back to pivotably move between generally upright and generally horizontal positions.

24. The chair of claim 19 wherein the chair includes a lock coupled to a support frame and the frame to releaseably lock the seat adjacent the chair back to provide a sitting surface.

25. The chair of claim 24 wherein the lock includes a ramp with a detent formed therein, the frame including a retainer having a roller which is releasably retained in the detent when the chair is in a locked position forming the sitting position.

26. A chair adapted to form a sitting surface and a sleeping surface comprising

a frame,

a chair back coupled to the frame and movable from a generally upright back-supporting position to a generally horizontal position, the chair back including a surface against which a back of a person can rest when the chair back is positioned in the generally upright back-supporting position, the surface facing downwardly when the chair back is positioned in the generally horizontal position, and

a seat coupled to the frame and movable away from the chair back so that the chair back and the seat are positioned in alignment and cooperate to form a generally horizontal sleeping surface when the chair back is moved to the generally horizontal position, wherein the chair includes a lock coupled below the seat to the frame to releasably lock the seat adjacent the chair back to provide a sitting surface, and the lock is connected to a support frame below the seat, the lock including a ramp with a detent formed therein, the frame including a retainer having a roller which is releasably retained in the detent when the chair is in a locked position forming the sitting position.

27. The chair of claim 26, wherein the support frame supports the seat and is configured to move relative to the frame between a retracted position for the chair to provide the sitting surface and an extended position for the chair to provide the sleeping surface, and the ramp is coupled to the support frame for movement therewith.

28. The chair of claim 26, wherein the seat includes a middle bed assembly positioned underneath the seat and a lower bed assembly positioned underneath the seat when the em chair is positioned to form a sitting surface, the lower bed assembly being coupled to the middle bed assembly and movable away from the seat and the chair back, the lower bed assembly including a leg support movable upwardly when the lower bed assembly moves away from the seat such that the leg support is moved into alignment with the seat of the middle bed assembly to form a portion of the generally horizontal sleeping surface.

29. The chair of claim 28, wherein the chair back abuts the seat and the seat abuts the leg support to form the generally horizontal sleeping surface.

30. The chair of claim 26, wherein a shelf is positioned behind the chair back such that the shelf is hidden when the chair back is in its generally upright back-supporting position and the shelf is visible and accessible when the chair back is in its generally horizontal position.

31. The chair of claim 26, wherein the chair back is mounted to the frame permitting the chair back to pivotably move to its generally upright back-supporting and generally horizontal positions.

32. A chair adapted to form a sitting surface and a sleeping surface comprising

a frame,

a chair back coupled to the frame and movable between generally upright and generally horizontal positions,

a seat coupled the frame and movable away from the chair back, and

a leg support coupled to the frame and positioned underneath the seat and movable out from under the seat when the seat is moved away from the chair back, the chair back moved from a generally upright position to a generally horizontal position, and the chair back, the seat and the leg support positioned in alignment and cooperating to form a generally horizontal sleeping surface with the chair back abutting the seat and the seat abutting the leg support, wherein a shelf is positioned behind the chair back such that the shelf is hidden when the chair back is in its generally upright position and the shelf is visible and accessible when the chair back is in its generally horizontal position.

33. The chair of claim 32 wherein the chair includes a lock coupled below the seat to the frame to releasably lock the seat adjacent the chair back to provide a sitting surface.

34. The chair of claim 33 wherein the lock is connected to a support frame below the seat, the lock including a ramp with a detent formed therein, the frame including a retainer having a roller which is releasably retained in the detent when the chair is in a locked position forming the sitting position.

35. A chair adapted to form a sleeping surface comprising

a frame,

a chair back coupled to the frame and movable between generally upright and horizontal positions, the chair back including a surface against which a back of a person can rest when the chair back is positioned in the generally upright position, the surface facing downwardly when the chair back is positioned in the generally horizontal position, and

a seat coupled to the frame, the seat being movable away from the chair back, the chair back being movable to the generally horizontal position to cooperate with the seat to provide a sleeping surface, wherein the chair includes a lock coupled below the seat to the frame to releasably lock the seat adjacent the chair back to provide a sitting surface, and the lock is connected to a support frame below the seat, the lock including a ramp with a detent formed therein, the frame including a retainer having a roller which is releasably retained in the detent when the chair is in a locked position forming the sitting position.

36. The chair of claim 35, wherein the support frame supports the seat and is configured to move relative to the frame between a retracted position for the chair to provide the sitting surface and an extended position for the chair to provide the sleeping surface, and the ramp is coupled to the support frame for movement therewith.

37. The chair of claim 35, wherein the seat includes a middle bed assembly positioned beneath the seat and a lower bed assembly is positioned underneath the seat when the chair is positioned to form a sitting surface, the lower bed assembly being coupled to the middle bed assembly and movable away from the seat and the chair back, the lower bed assembly including a leg support movable upwardly when the lower bed assembly moves away from the seat such that the leg support is moved into alignment with the seat of the middle bed assembly to form a portion of the sleeping surface.

38. The chair of claim 37, wherein the chair back abuts the seat and the seat abuts the leg support to form the sleeping surface.

39. The chair of claim 35, wherein a shelf is positioned behind the chair back such that the shelf is hidden when the chair back is in an upright position and the shelf is visible and accessible when the chair back is in its generally horizontal position.

40. A chair adapted to form both a sitting surface and a sleeping surface comprising

a frame,

a chair back coupled to the frame and having an upright position and movable to a lowered position, the chair back including a surface against which a back of a person can rest when the chair back is positioned in the upright position, the surface facing downwardly when the chair back is positioned in the lowered position, and

a seat coupled to the frame to cooperate with the chair back to provide a sitting surface in front of the chair back when the chair back is in the generally upright position, the seat being movable forwardly to cooperate with the chair back moved into the lowered position to form a sleeping surface, wherein the chair includes a lock coupled to a support frame and the frame to releaseably lock the seat adjacent the chair back to provide the sitting surface, and the lock includes a ramp with a detent formed therein, the frame including a retainer having a roller which is releasably retained in the detent when the chair is in a locked position forming the sitting position.

41. The chair of claim 40, wherein the support frame supports the seat and is configured to move relative to the frame between a retracted position for the chair to provide the sitting surface and an extended position for the chair to provide the sleeping surface, and the ramp is coupled to the support frame for movement therewith.

42. The chair of claim 40, wherein a shelf is positioned behind the chair back such that the shelf is hidden when the chair back is in its upright position and the shelf is visible and accessible when the chair back is in its lowered position.

43. The chair of claim 40, wherein the seat includes a middle bed assembly positioned beneath the seat and a lower bed assembly is positioned underneath the seat when the chair is positioned to form the sitting surface, the lower bed assembly being coupled to the middle bed assembly and movable away from the seat and the chair back, the lower bed assembly including a leg support movable upwardly when the lower bed assembly moves away from the seat such that the leg support is moved into alignment with the seat of the middle bed assembly to form a portion of the sleeping surface.

44. The chair of claim 43, wherein the chair back abuts the seat and the seat abuts the leg support to form the sleeping surface.

45. A chair adapted to form a sitting surface and a sleeping surface comprising

a frame,

a chair back coupled to the frame and movable from a generally upright back-supporting position to a generally horizontal position,

a seat coupled the frame and movable away from the chair back so that when the chair back is moved to the generally horizontally position, the chair back and the seat are positioned in alignment and cooperate to form a generally horizontal sleeping surface, and

a lock coupled to a support frame and the frame to releaseably lock the seat adjacent the chair back to provide a sitting surface, wherein the lock includes a ramp with a detent formed therein, the frame including a retainer having a roller which is releasably retained in the detent when the chair is in a locked position forming the sitting position.

46. The chair of claim 45, wherein the support frame supports the seat and is configured to move relative to the frame between a retracted position for the chair to provide the sitting surface and an extended position for the chair to provide the sleeping surface, and the ramp is coupled to the support frame for movement therewith.

47. A chair adapted to form a sitting surface and a sleeping surface comprising

a frame,

a chair back positioned in an upright position having a convex upper end and coupled to the frame,

a seat having a concave end positioned under the chair back and coupled to the frame, the seat being movable away from the chair back and the chair back being movable to a generally horizontal position such that the convex upper end conformingly fits against the concave end of the seat to cooperate with the seat to provide a sleeping surface, and

a lock coupled below the seat to the frame to releaseably lock the seat adjacent the chair back to provide a sitting surface.

48. The chair of claim 47 wherein the lock is connected to a support frame below the seat, the lock including a ramp with a detent formed therein, the frame including a retainer having a roller which is releasably retained in the detent when the chair is in a locked position forming the sitting position.