Sofa Bed

An object of this invention is to provide a sofa which is convertible to a substantially full-size bed, which may be economically produced and which requires a minimum of effort to convert same from a sofa to a bed and vice versa.

Another object of this invention is to provide a seat section and a back section, which back section is pivotally movable from its upright position adjacent the seat section where it forms the sofa, to a horizontal position adjacent the inner side of the seat section to provide a substantially full-size bed, and wherein the back section is provided with legs which are normally hidden from view but which are extendible to a substantially upright position to thereby support the back section in its horizontal position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sofa bed of the foregoing character having locking means for locking the back section in its upright position where the unit serves to function as a sofa and wherein the back section has pivotally mounted legs which when the back section is in upright position are in out-of-the-way position, and which legs are positionable to a substantially upright leg supporting position when the back rest is pivoted to a horizontal position, and where the back rest is provided with stop means for limiting the upright position of the leg means when in leg supporting position.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of the framework of the sofa bed showing the back section in upright position in relation to the seat section so as to form a sofa, the upholstery being removed for the purpose of clarity.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2--2 of FIG. 3, showing in full lines the leg in out-of-the-way position and in dotted lines the leg pivoted to its leg supporting position as when the back section is moved to its horizontal position.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the back section and a portion of the arm of the sofa.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4--4 of FIG. 3, but showing the leg means in leg supporting position as when the back section is in its horizontal position.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a modification, with the back section pivoted to a horizontal position to form a full-size bed.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view partly in section taken on line 6--6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a view of the framework of the sofa bed shown in FIG. 5, with the back section in substantially upright position so as to form a sofa, but showing a modified leg and stop means from that of FIG. 5, which modified leg and stop means is shown in FIG. 11 in leg supporting position.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 8--8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an elevational view showing the locking means for locking the back section in upright position.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken on line 10--10 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view showing the pivoting of the back section from an upright position shown in FIG. 7 to a horizontal position.

FIG. 12 is a rear perspective view of the framework of another modification with a portion broken away.

FIG. 13 is an elevational view of FIG. 12, showing in dotted lines the back rest positioned in its horizontal position; and

FIG. 14 is a partial view of the back section with the leg supporting member in substantially upright leg supporting position to support the back section in a horizontal position.

The first embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive, will be first described.

The framework of the sofa bed is generally designated at 10 and comprises a seat frame section generally indicated at 12 which includes a pair of spaced side arm frames generally indicated at 14 which are affixed to the seat frame section. Pivotally secured to the side arm frames 14 is a back frame section generally indicated at 16 which is adapted to be pivoted from a substantially inclined upright position, as shown in FIG. 1 where it functions as the back section for the sofa, to the horizontal position shown in FIG. 4 adjacent the seat section where it functions as a sofa bed, to provide with the seat section the equivalent of a full-size bed. Only that portion of the frame of the seat section is shown which is relevant to the invention herein, it being understood that the portion of the seat section not shown is conventional. The frames of the seat, side arms and back section are made preferably of wood or like material.

The seat frame section 12 includes longitudinally extending lower front and rear rails 18 and 20, respectively, to the opposite ends of which are secured the side arm frames 14. Each of said side arm frames 14 includes vertically extending front and rear strips 22 and 24, connected at their top by a horizontal top strip 25 and at their bottom by a horizontal bottom strip 26. Conventional spaced stationary legs 27 are fixedly secured to the bottom strip 26 of the side arm frames. Secured between the front and rear vertical strips 22 and 24 and below the top strip 26 is a bracing strip 28. Each of the side arm frames 14 is provided with a pair of cross strips 30 which rest on the bottom strip 26. Secured to the longitudinal rear rail 20 of the seat frame section adjacent the opposite ends thereof is a block 32.

The seat frame section 12 is provided with a conventional spring assembly (not shown) on which rests the conventional under seat cushion A and the upper seat cushion B. The seat frame section is suitably upholstered, as are the side arm frames 14.

The back frame section 16 comprises longitudinally extending rails 34 and 36 which extend the length of the back section and which are parallel to each other. The longitudinal rails 34 and 36 are connected at their opposite ends by vertically extending end strips 38. A pair of spaced intermediate strips 40 extend between the rails 34 and 36 and are secured to said rails. The front edge of the intermediate strips has a central recessed portion 42 to accommodate the conventional spring assembly 16' which extends between the opposite ends 38 of the back frame.

Extending between each of the end strips 38 and its adjacent intermediate vertical strip 40 are short strips 44 and a strip 46 which are spaced from each other and which are secured to the end and intermediate strips adjacent the outer edges 38' and 40' of said strips. The bottom edge 48 of the strip 44 is inclined or beveled and serves as a stop for the legs in leg supporting position, as shown in FIG. 4. Leg receiving pockets indicated at 50 are formed between the end strip 38 and its adjacent intermediate strip 40 to thereby form a pair of spaced leg receiving pockets 50, each pocket being adjacent the opposite ends of the back section.

A pair of pivotally supported leg means is provided for supporting the back section. Each leg means, generally indicated at 52, is positioned to be received in its respective pocket 50, as more clearly shown in full lines in FIG. 2. Each said leg means comprises a strip 54 having spaced end strips 56 secured thereto at the opposite ends. The end strips 56 are at right angles to strips 54. The length of each leg means is the distance between the end strip 38 and its adjacent intermediate strip 40. Each leg means 52 is pivotally secured to the back frame by means of a rod 58 which passes through alined openings in the opposite end strips 56 of said leg means. One end of said rod is received in an annular recess 60 in the end strip 38 of the back frame section and the opposite end of said rod extends into an annular opening 61 in the intermediate strip 40. A block 62 is secured to the intermediate strip 40 to close said opening and thereby secure the rod in position. The rod 58 forms a pivot support for pivotal movement of the leg means 52 and said leg means is pivoted with respect to the back frame section. The bottom edge of the end strips 56 of the leg means is inclined or angled as indicated at 63.

Mounted on the inside of each of the leg means 52 is a slideable latching rod 64 which, as best shown in FIG. 3, serves to lock the back section in its upright position, as when it forms a sofa. The outer end of the slideable rod 64 passes through an alined opening 68 in the end strip 38 of the back frame section 16 and passes into an opening 69 in a locking block 70 which is fixedly secured to the side arm frame 14 to effect a locking therewith. The locking block 70 is positioned below the top horizontal strip 25 of the side arm frame 14. A string or the like 65 is attached to the rod 64 and to the back frame section to hold the rod 64 captive.

When the back section is in its upright position, as shown in FIG. 2, said back section may be locked in such upright position by manually engaging the rod 64 and sliding the rod into the openings in the side arm and locking block 70 and thereby maintain the back section in its upright position. When the leg means 52 is in substantially vertical non-use position the slideable latching rod 64 is positioned inwardly of the leg means and would be hidden by the leg strip 54 when viewed from the rear, as shown in FIG. 1. The strip 54 of the leg means 52 has a cutout 72 so that the hand may engage the strip 54 and pivot the leg means 52 outwardly from its non-use position, shown in FIG. 1, to its upright leg supporting position, shown in FIG. 4. When the back frame section 16 is in its upright sofa position, as in FIG. 1, the leg means 52 are pivoted so that they extend vertically and are parallel with the back frame section. This is their non-leg supporting position.

The bottom of the back frame section 16 is pivotally secured to the side arm frame by means of a pivot pin 74 which extends through an opening 75 in the block 76, which block is fixedly secured to the insides of the end strips 38 of the back frame section 16. The pivot pin 74 also extends through an alined opening in the end strips 38 of the back frame and is anchored to the side arm frames 14 by extending between block 32 and rear strip 20. The pivot pin 74 is fixedly secured to said side arm frames 14 and pivotally supports the back frame section 16 and permits pivoting of the back section from the substantially upright position shown in FIG. 1 to the horizontal position shown in FIG. 4.

The normal upright position of the back section is inclined with respect to the seat for normal sitting position, and while the upright position of the back rest is not perpendicular to the seat section it will sometimes herein be referred to as either an upright position or a vertical position with respect to the seat. When the back section is pivoted from its upright position to the horizontal position shown in FIG. 4, the back section extends horizontally outward or rearwardly of the seat section to form a substantially full-size bed. When the back section is pivoted to the horizontal position the leg means 52 are each moved outwardly to an inclined upright position, such as shown in FIG. 4, and the leg means 52 abut against the edge 48 of the strip 44 which serves as the outward stop means for the legs in their extended or leg supporting position. The inclined bottom edge 63 of said leg means rest flat on the floor surface. The two leg means 52 each have a substantial length and both extend substantially two-thirds of the length of the back section and provide ample support for the back section when in a horizontal position. While the leg means 52 are shown in extended leg supporting position in FIG. 4 and at an inclined angle, they will sometimes be referred to as in upright position or substantially vertical position, it being understood that said terms include the angled position shown in FIG. 4.

The back frame section 16 is covered with the conventional upholstery and conventional back pillows are positioned against the back frame section when in sofa position. When the back section is pivoted to its horizontal position the back pillows are removed and the upper seat cushion B is positioned on the horizontal back section so that the cushion A on the seat frame and the cushion B on the back frame section form the same top horizontal plane to provide a full-size bed, similar to that shown in FIGS. 11 and 13.

FIGS. 5 to 11, inclusive, show a modification in which the frames for the seat section and the arms are like that previously described, and only those portions where the differences are embodied will be described in detail. The portions similar or identical to those in FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive, will be identified by the same numerals heretofore used followed by the letter a.

The seat frame section generally indicated at 12a is formed of the same framework as seat frame 12. Secured to the opposite ends of the seat frame section are the side arm frames 14a. The seat frame section 12a is provided with a conventional spring assembly generally indicated at 12'. The back frame section 16a is formed of spaced longitudinally extending rails 34a and 36a which are connected at their opposite ends by end strips 38a. Spacedly secured between the longitudinal rails 34a and 36a are three cross strips each generally designated at 80. The bottom of said back section, as viewed in upright position in FIG. 7, or the inner end of the back section when viewed in a horizontal position, is pivotally secured to the side arm frames 14a by a pin 74a, in the manner previously described, to permit pivoting of said back section 16a.

Short strips 82 are secured in spaced relation to the cross strips 80 through intermediate spaced blocks 84 and 84', best shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, so that a leg receiving pocket or recess 86 is provided between each of the cross strips 80 and the short strips 82. Each of said leg receiving pockets 86 receives a pivotally mounted leg means 88 which is pivotally secured by a carriage bolt 89 extending through alined opening 90 in said leg means. The carriage bolt is locked in position by means of a nut 91. A friction washer 92 is positioned between the leg means 88 and the strip 82.

The block 84 which serves as a spacer member also serves to provide a leg stop when the leg is in upright supporting position, as shown in FIG. 11. The bottom portion of the block 84 has an inclined surface 93 which is partially curvilinear as at 94 and the top of the leg 88 is curvilinear as at 95 so that when the leg is in its out-of-the-way or non-use position and is recessed in the pocket or recess, as when the back frame section is in upright position, shown in FIG. 11, the curvilinear top 95 of the leg is adjacent the inclined and curvilinear surface of the stop 84. As the back section is lowered to a horizontal position, also shown in FIG. 11, the leg means 88 is extended to its substantially upright position and the outer edge 88' of the leg abuts against the inclined surface 93 of the block 84 to prevent further outward pivoting of said leg. In the construction shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 11, the leg means 88 are in a vertical position parallel to the back frame section 16a when the back frame section is in upright position, as in FIG. 7, with the leg means within the leg receiving pocket 86. The seat frame section 12a has the fixed legs 27a secured thereto and in addition has an intermediate fixed leg 97 at the rear thereof. The intermediate leg 97 is secured to an angle iron 98 which is secured to the rear longitudinal strip 20a of the seat section, as shown in FIG. 11. Similar additional legs may be provided if desired. The intermediate leg 97 serves principally to support the back frame section in its horizontal position.

In FIG. 5, the leg means 52a are each pivotally supported as in FIG. 7 by a carriage bolt 89, and such leg means 52a are received in leg receiving pockets similar to leg receiving pockets 86 of FIG. 7. The leg means 52a each engage a strip 44a whose bottom edge is inclined or beveled similar to strip 44 of FIG. 4 to serve as stop means for the leg means in extended in-use position as shown in FIG. 5. When the back frame section is in upright position the leg means 52a are in a vertical position parallel with the back frame section as in FIG. 7. The legs 52a are of a thickness substantially that of the thickness of legs 88.

Latching means, best shown in FIGS. 7, 9 and 10 are provided for securing the back section in its upright position. Said latching means comprises an L-shaped metal strip 100 having one end bent at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the strip. The latching member 100 is pivotally secured as at 102 to the rear vertical strip of the side arm frame 14a. The latching member is recessed or notched as at 104 for engagement with a rearwardly extending pin 105 secured to a wooden strip 106 which is secured to the end strips 38a of the back frame member 16a. The pin is notched or serrated so that when the latching member 100 is in engagement therewith, such as when the back section is in upright position, the back section is locked in such upright position. To unlock same for moving the back section to a horizontal position, the latching strip 100 is pivoted so that the front end is out of engagement with the pin 105 on the back section and this will permit the back section 16a to be pivoted to a horizontal position.

In this modification it will be seen that the legs 88 (or legs 52a of FIG. 5) are within their respective pockets or recesses 86 when the back section is in its upright position so that they are not visible. When the back section is pivoted to its horizontal position the legs 88 (or 52a) are moved manually to their upright position. Due to the friction washer 29a a tight fit is provided between the leg and its support to maintain the leg in its leg receiving pocket. In this construction the legs 88 (or 52a) are positioned vertically when the back section is in its upright position.

FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 show another embodiment which differs from the structure shown in FIGS. 5 to 11, inclusive, principally in the manner in which the pivotal leg means on the back frame section are supported. In all other respects the back frame member is similar to that shown in FIGS. 5 through 11 and will not be redescribed. The identical parts will be identified by the same numerals heretofore used followed by the letter b.

In this modified version the pivotal legs on the back frame section 16b when in non-use position are positioned horizontally when the back rest is in its upright position, as shown in FIG. 12, and said legs are pivoted to their upright leg supporting position when the back rest is pivoted to its horizontal position, such as shown in FIG. 14.

The back frame section 16b includes longitudinal rails 34b and 36b which are connected by end strips 38b, similar to that previously described. Spaced from the longitudinal rail 34b and secured thereto by spacing blocks 84b is another longitudinal rail 112 which provides a plurality of leg receiving pockets 86b between the longitudinal rails 34b and 112. A plurality of legs 88b, each of which is pivotally secured by means of a pin 89b which extends through openings in the rails 34b and 112 and through an alined opening in the top of the leg 88b has a friction washer 92b interposed between the leg and one of said rails, as shown in FIG. 14. The spacing blocks 84b also serve as stop means for the legs in their extended upright position, as best seen in FIG. 14, and the surface of the spacing blocks has surfaces 93b and 94b, similar to surfaces 93 and 94, and the top of the leg has a curvilinear top edge 95b, similar to the leg 88.

When the back section is lowered to its horizontal position, the leg is pivoted outwardly to its upright supporting position, as shown in FIG. 14. In non-use position shown in FIG. 12, when the back section is in an upright position the plane of the leg is horizontal and parallel to the plane of the longitudinal rails 34b and 112. In the FIGS. 1 through 11 embodiment the leg when in non-use position is positioned vertically and at right angles to the plane of the top longitudinal rail of the back section.