US1326295A - Folding bed - Google Patents

Description

F. L. H. SIMS.

FOLDING BED. APPLICATION FILED DEc.21, |917.

Patented Dec. 30, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET- l `F. L. H. SIMS.

FOLDING BED.

APPLICATION FILED 050.21. I9I1.

Patented Dec. 30, 1919.

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FREDERICK L. H. SIMS, OF TORONTQ, ONTARIO, CANADA.

FOLDING BED.

Application filed December 2l, 1917.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK L. I-I. SIMS, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing in the city of Toronto, county of York7 Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Beds, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to folding beds of the type in which the mattress is folded more than once in closing, and in which, when the bed is opened, the mattress l'frame is extended forwardly from the frame, with its length at right angles thereto, to fullbed length, and my object is to devise as simple a construction of the frame and operating mechanism as possible, and one which will provide accommodation for the mattress, bed clothes 'and pillows when the frame is folded without the seat being raised more Vthan a normal distance from the floor or the seat-back spaced more than a normal distance from the back of the bed frame, to reduce the number of folds usually fneeded in the mattress frames and mattresses of beds of similar type, to provide space for a drawer for bed clothes and other articles, to provide a seat so compact in construction that its upper surface is not raised more than a normal distance from the floor despite the small number of folds in the mattress frame and mattress, and to provide in connection with the device a normally concealed table.

I attain these objects by means of .the constructions hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure l is a vertical section of a folding` bed constructed in accordance with my invention, the folded position being indicated in full lines and the extended position in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 a side elevation of part of the same showing the mattress frame folded to form a table;

Fig. 3 a plan view of one side of the folding bed in an extended position;

Fig. 4 a perspective view of the device in folded position;

Fig. 5 a perspective detail, partly in section, showing the arrangement of the seat;

Fig. 6 a perspective detail showing the automatic'lock and release mechanism for the intermediate mattress frame section. and

Fig. 7 a perspective detail of the seat,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 3G, 1919.

serial No. 20eme partly in section, on a line at right angles to Fig. 5.

In the drawings like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different gures.

1 is the bed frame, which may be of any ordinary construction as far as its main features are concerned. The sectional jointed mattress frame employed therewith comprises an inner section 2, an intermediate section 3 and an outer section 4. all suitably pivoted together. The inner section Q is pivotally connected with the frame, the inner ends thereof being preferably hooked as shown to fit over suitable pivots 5. The innersection is thus easily disconnected at any time or Vhinged back as hereinafter described. The intermediate section is pivotally connected with the upper end of a swinging supporting frame G at 31, thelower end of which is pivotally connected with the frame of the device at 32. The lower part of this supporting frame is finished to form the front or fall board of the bed. The outer section is provided with the fixed legs 7 suitably connected by a cross brace 8.

When the device is folded the inner section inclines downwardly and forwardly from its rear end, the intermediate section inclines somewhat forwardly .from the forward end of the inner section, and the supporting` frame 6 is substantially vertical. The outer section lies over the other two sections and may be substantially horizontal or slightly inclined forwardly as shown in Fig. l. The mattress, which is suitably secured to the wire mesh fabric 9 of the mattress frame, is thus only folded twice at right angles as shown, thus saving one fold over the ordinary folding bed of each type.

lWhen the device is extended the mattress sections come into alinement, the legs 7 rest on the floor and the swinging supporting frame 6 moves to the inclined position shown'in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The parts have no tendency to depart from this position as long` as there is no weight on the intermediate or inner sections, or a weight less than any supported on the outer section. I deem it preferable, however, to provide local supports for the intermediate and inner sections to take the strain of any weight placed on these sections and to prevent any tendency of the outer section to swing up under such conditions.

I provide therefore at each side a supporting leg l0 preferably of bell crank form, which is preferably pivoted on the bracket l1 depending from the intermediate section. One of these brackets is employed at each side forming the ends of a cross brace l2 which takes the strain of the wire fabric of the intermediate section. The supporting members, under the iniuence of gravity, tend to fall to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. l and in full lines in Fig. 6. Downward pressure on the intermediate section is thus transmitted to the swinging supporting frame and is resolved into a downward pressure on the pivots of the latter and a longitudinal strain on the intermediate and inner sections of the mattress frame.

Means are provided for releasing the supporting members when the outer section is swung up relative to the intermediate section in the process of folding the bed. For this purpose I provide at each side a sliding member 13 connected with one of the side members of the intermediate section by means of headed rivets or bolts la passing through slots in the members. The outer end of each sliding member is bent upwardly somewhat so as to be engaged by the outer section a little distance above its pivot. When the outer section is swung up sufficiently far, it engages the outer end of the sliding member and the inner end of each sliding member in turn engages the arm l5 of the bell crank leg, and rocks the latter suiiiciently so that as the intermediate section folds down, the supporting legs ride up the supporting frame and assume the position shown in full lines in Fig. l.

p In order that the inner mattress frame section may be used as a table, I provide it with the hinged legs 19, which, when the bed is extended and the inner section turned over as shown in Fig. 2, will rest on the outer end of the outer mattress frame section. A board 20 connected by pivoted links 21 forms the table top. Then the bed is in use, the links allow the board to swing away from the mattress frame section sufficiently far that the swinging mattress frame member will not contact therewith.

The seat back 22 is of ordinary construction, but is secured to a cross bar :23 pivoted in the ends of the bed frame. A dog 2li is pivote/d on the bed frame and is adapted to engage in a notch 25 formed in the cross bar 23 when the seat back has been swung up out of the way, thus retaining it securely in position until deliberately released.

The seat 16 is of novel construction and arrangement. In constructing the seat I abandon the use of the double conical spiral springs hitherto used by upholsterers to provide resilience as it is impossible to use them without unduly raising the level of the top of the seat from the floor. I secure the necessary resilience and strength to support any reasonable weight by means of the specitic construction shown in the drawings. On the side members of the outer mattress frame section, on the part of same which is uppermost w ien the device is folded, I rigidly secure angle-iron bars 26 with their perpendicular limbs inward, and to these bars I secure a wooden molding 27 suitably fitted to the outer sides of the same and suitably shaped as shown to avoid sharp corners.,

rihese angle bars 26 are pierced for the usual fabric springs 28, only instead of fabbric I employ net Work 29 of thin strap metal, which is thus supported normally about an inch out of contact with the fabric 9 for supporting the mattress. This net work preferably has at its forward end a coiled resilient member 3() as shown, provided to form a foundation for the front edge contour of the upholsterino. About this resilient member the canvas cover of the gridiron is piped, being stitched into a tube. A suitable flap depends from the piping and is attached to the wooden filling of the swinging support frame 6.

The seat is suitably filled or stuifed and is then upholstered in leather, or. other suitable material. side springs gives suiiicient resilience to maintain the crown of the seat in every direction at the same normal tension as can be attained by the well known conical springs. lhen a person or persons sufficiently heavy are upon the seat, the metal net work is depressed until it forms contact with the fabric 6, which supports the mattress when the bed is open, but which, of course, is doing no work when the bed is folded, and the mattress springs are thus used to reinforce the seat springs adding their resilience and strength to the seat. By this means a thoroughly satisfactory seat is obtained, and all with a thickness of considerably less than three inches as compared with the thickness of eight inches necessary for the old style seat with conical springs.. IWhen 1t 1s desired to use the device as a bed, the seat back 22 is raised to the posi-- tion shown in dotted lines in Fig. l. rIlie legs 7 are then grasped and the outer section i of the mattress frame swung forward. As soon as this reaches the position of alinement with the intermediate section 8, the latter is tilted up and the swinging supporting frame tilted forward. The section 2 is thus lifted and the parts assume lthe position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. WV hen the parts reach this position the supporting member l() drops to the position shown in dotted lines, thus supporting the inner end of the intermediate section and also the outer end of the inner section of the mattress frame. When the device is to be folded, the outer section e is raised. This section, by engage- The metal net work with its ment with the sliding member 13, releases the supporting member 10 and permits the intermediate and inner section to drop as the swinging supporting` frame 6 is raised to the perpendicular by continued movement `of the part 4C of the frame. When the part 6 has re-assumed the vertical position, the part l is `turned down to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 and the seat back restored to its original position.

From the above description it will be seen that the device is very simple in con struction, necessitates only two folds in the mattress7 employs a minimum of moving parts, and does not require the use of springs to either bala-nce the frame or actuate any of the parts used in the operation of folding or unfolding the device.

That I claim as my invention is l. In a folding bed, the combination of a bed frame; a sectional mattress frame coinprising an inner section pivotally supported at its inner end on fixed pivots, an intermediate section and an outer section all hinged together; a swinging supporting frame pivoted at its lower end on the bed frame and at its upper end to the intermediate section adjacent its outer end; a supporting leg at each side pivoted on the intermediate section and adapted to engage the back of the swinging frame to hold the inner and intermediate sections in alinement; a releasing arm extending from each supporting leg and means carried by the intermediate section and engageable by the outer section when swung up on the intermediate section adapted to actuate the releasing arm.

2. In a folding bed; the combination of a bed frame; a sectional mattress frame comprising an inner section detachably and pivotally supported at its inner end, an intermediate section and an outer section all hinged together; a swinging supporting frame pivoted at its lower end on the bed frame and at its upper end to the inter1nediate section adjacent its outer end; legs connected to the outer end of the outer section; and legs hinged to the end of the inner section adapted to rest on the outer section when the inner section is disconnected from the bed frame and turned over the outer section.

3. In a folding bed, the combination of a bed frame; a sectional mattress frame comprising an inner section detachably and pivotally supported at its inner end, an intermediate section and an outer section all hinged together; a swinging supporting frame pivoted at its lower end on the bed frame and at its upper end to the interme diate section adjacent its outer end; legs connected to the outer end of the outer section; legs hinged to the end of the inner section adapted to rest on the outer section when the inner section is disconnected from the bed frame and turned over the outer section; and a board adapted to form a table top; and pivoted links connecting said board beneath the side of the inner section which is normally undermost.

4. In a folding bed, the combination of a bed frame; a sectional mattress frame comprising an inner section having its inner end pivotally supported at bed level on fixed pivots; an intermediate section and an outer section all hinged together, the outer section when the bed is folded lying above the inner section and spaced therefrom at a suitable level to support a seat; a swinging supporting frame pivoted at its lower end on the bed frame and at its upper end directly pivoted to the intermediate section adjacent its outer end; and legs secured to the outer section adapted to rest on the floor when the bed is open.

' 5. In a folding bed, the combination of a bed frame; a sectional mattress frame coni prising an inner section having its inner end pivotally supported at bed level on fixed pivots; an intermediate section and an outer section all hinged together; the outer section when the bed is folded lying above the inner section and spaced therefrom at a suitable level to support a seat; a swinging supporting frame pivoted at its lower end on the bed frame and at its upper end directly pivoted to the intermediate section adj acent its outer end; legs secured to the outer section adapted to rest on the floor when the bed is open; and a supporting leg pivotally carried on the intermediate section adapted at its lower end to engage the su porting frame, when the bed is extended, tie upper end of the leg forming means whereby it may bev swung to engage with or disengage from the mattress frame supporting member.

6. A folding bed as set forth in claim 5 provided with means whereby the swinging of the outer mattress frame section on the intermediate section disengages the supporting leg from the supporting member of the bed frame.

7 In a folding bed, the combination of a bed frame; a sectional mattress frame comprising an inner section having an inner end pivotally supported at its inner end at bed level on fixed pivots; an intermediate section and an outer section all hinged together, the outer section when the bed is folded lying above the inner section and spaced therefro-m at a suitable level vto support a seat; a swinging supporting frame pivoted'at its lower end on the bed frame and at its upper end directly pivoted to the intermediate section adjacent its outer end; legs secured to the outer section adapted to rest on the fioor when the bed is open; a supporting leg at each side of the frame pivotally carried on the mattress frame to support the adjacent lOO ends of the intermediate and inner sections; and means for swinging the said legs to an inoperative position operable by swinging up the outer mattress frame section on the intermediate section.

8. A folding bed as set forth in claim lin which a bracket provided with flaring legs is secured to each side of the intermediat section and an tangle cross bar is secured b y its flanges to the legs of said brackets; and supporting legs pivoted on said brackets adapted at their lower ends to engage the supporting frame, when the bed is extended, the upper ends of the legs forming v means whereby they may be swung to engage with or disengage from the mattress iframe supporting member.

9. ln a folding bed, the combination o a bed frame; a sectional mattress irame comprising an inner section pivotally supported at its inner end on fixed pivots at the level of the bed when extended and normally in clined downwardly and forwardly from its pivots, an intermediate section hinged on the inner section and inclined 'forwardly and upwardly to a point above the said bed level, an outer section hinged on the outer end of the intermediate section and normally lying over the other sections so that its then upper side may carry a seat; a support for said outer section when in its normal position; a supporting frame normally substantially vertical pivoted at its lower end on the bed frame and at its upper end directly on the intermediate section adja cent its outer end; and legs secured to the outer section adapted to rest on the floor when the bed is open.

Signed at Toronto, Canada, this seventh day of December', 1917.

FREDERICK L. M. SIMS.

CID

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