US802599A - Convertible sofa-bed. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED OUT. 24, 1905.

W. I. ROLPH. CONVERTIBLE SOFA BED.

APPLICATION FILED DLTO.15, 1904 2 SHEBTS-SHIZET 1.

ANDREW u (mum co,

PATENTED OCT. 24, 1905.

W. T. ROLPH GDNVERTIBLE SOFA BED.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 15, 1904 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UTWTTE I VVILLTAM T. ROLPH, OF GENEVA, NEW YORK.

CONVERTIIBLIE SOFA-"BED.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 24, 1905.

Application filed December 15, 190 i. Serial No. 236,959.

To all 2072/0171, it 712/601 concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM T. Rowe, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Geneva, county of Ontario, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Sofa- Beds. of which the following is a full and true specification.

The invention relates to improvements in convertible sofa-beds, the seat and back sections whereof are capable of relative angular movement whereby they may be flattened to serve asa bed and also of bodily lateral movement upon their supporting-base; and the said improvements consist in the various features of construction and the relative arrangement and disposition of parts which will be hereinbelow fully described, and more particularly pointed out in the accompanying claims.

In the accompanying two sheets of drawings, forming a part hereof, Figures 1, 9., and 3 are end elevations of a sofa-bed embodying features of this invention and showing the same in successive stages of transformation from a sofa or couch to a bed. Fig. L is a front elevation of one end of the device serving as a sofa. Fig. 5 is avertical transverse sectional view of Fig. 4 on the line 5 5. Fig. 6 is a detailed sectional view showing one form of track. Fig. 7 is a detail in elevation of the rear corner of the bedding-box or base, and Fig. 8 is a detail of the truck with upright and rollers.

The reference-numeral 1 in the several figures representsa stationary base formed of side and end boards and a bottom, constituting a bedding box or receptacle in which the bedding may be stored when the apparatus is serving as a sofa. This base is shown in the drawings as a rectangular box mounted on casters, whereby the device as a whole may 'be moved about; but it is to be understood that the same is at all times a stationary base with respect to the operation of the seat and back sections, and does not require to be moved from the wall, if it should be so placed, in order to permit such operation. The seatsection and back-section 3 are each composed of rectangular frames of suflicient thickness or depth to contain the usual springs and other upholstery appurtenances, and these frames are preferably, though not necessarily, equal in length to the length of the bedding-box, so that the exterior end surfaces of the said three parts will occupy substantially the same planes at each end of the apparatus. At or near each end the sections 2 and 3 are pivotally united by means of hinges 4, and these hinges are provided with locking and releasing means whereby the two sections may be maintained in fixed angular relation to constitute a sofa or may be swung relatively apart to serve as a bed. The locking means shown herein is substantially identical with that disclosed in the patent of T. G. Weyer, No. 62 L596, May 9, 1899, and will not require further description than to say that it comprises a link 5, pivoted to one section below the hinge-pin and engaging a pin 6 on the other, the said link being provided with a latch or dog 7, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5,) whereby it holds the sections normally in fixed angular relation, but upon a further movement of one section becomes released and permits them to be flattened apart. vention, however, is not to be understood as limited to the employment of the hinge above described, inasmuch as many other kinds of devices may also be used with equal effect- The said sections are supported at the region of their pivotal axis, preferably by the pivotpins of the hinges t, upon the uprights 8 of suitable sliding or rolling truck-frames 9, disposed one at each end of the device (see Fig. 8) and mounted for lateral movement upon the base or bedding-box. The frames are capable of various construction, but as shown herein are comprised of a laterally-extending base member 10, with the upright 8 rising centrally thereof, and an antifriction-roller 11 upon either side of said upright. The rollers, however, are not essential, and sliding bearings may be substituted for them. The uprights 8 are at least equal in length to the thickness of the upholstered seat-section, so that they will support the same free from binding on the base member 1, and the dimensions of the base portion of the truck are such that there will be no tendency for the same to tilt or cramp when forced into movement upon their tracks by the means presently to be described. The ways or tracks upon which the said trucks are arranged to travel are disposed interiorly of the outer surfaces of the end boards of the bedding-box, so as to be concealed from view, and to this end they may be disposed on the floor of the box or on brackets within the same; but, as shown herein, the tracks are provided by interior grooves or rabbets 12 on the said end boards, Fig. 6, and retaining means in the form of slotted plates This in- 13, closing the inner sides of said rabbets, are fastened thereto, whereby suitable projections from said truck-framesc. the roller axles l4-may engage in the said slots to hold the trucks at all times safely on the tracks; but other forms of retaining means holding the trucks on the tracks may be employed with equal efl'ect.

Combined with the parts above described the apparatus is provided with means for constraining bodilylateral movement of the pivotally-united sections on the box when said sections are swung together in locked angular relation. This means comprises a throw-bar 15 at each end of the apparatus and disposed interiorly of the outer faces of the end pieces of the same. The throw-bar, which is a onepiece rigid lever, is hinged to a bracket 16 on the base and is pivotally attached to the backsection 3 within the recess or slot 17 therein. When the forward edge of the seat-section is raised, the hinge being locked, the two sections are swung together on their pivotal axis, the throw-bars are swung forwardly, and force the trucks also forwardly upon their respective tracks. This carries the two sections to the position shown in Fig. 2, in which it will be observed that the throw-bars 15 have entered a slot or groove 18, provided in the end board of the base 1 for this purpose. A slight backward movement of the seat-section serves to automatically release thehinge-locking means, and the said section may then be lowered to a horizontal position, as indicated in Fig. 3. In so doing a leg 20, hitherto maintained in concealed position under the seat, is moved downwardly into vertical position by means of the link 21, which latter is connected to the back-section at a point 25. The reverse operation is eifected by raising the seatsection to vertical position, whereupon it antomatically looks with the back-section, and then depressing it, which forces the throwbars 15 backwardly and retracts the trucks to their former position, as shown in Fig. 1.

It will be observed from the foregoing that the operating mechanism is entirely contained within the frames of the sections and base, which disposes of the necessity of covering the ends with ornamental panels, arm-pieces, or the like, or if such parts are desired they may be fastened directly to the said sections in simple and economical manner. The hinges and parts are of course intended to be concealed by the upholstery. (Not shown in the drawings.) The front wall of the beddingbox is open on its forward side to leave the interior thereof conveniently accessible for the insertion of the bedding or other articles, and a depending wall 23 on the seat-section 2 forms a closure for this opening when the device is serving as a couch.

Having described my invention, what 1 claim, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent, is-

1. In a convertible sofa-bed, a stationary bedding-box forming a supporting-base, pivotally-united seat and back sections supported thereon and means for holding said sections locked the one to the other whereby they may be maintained in fixed angular relation as a sofa, in combination with a rigid throw-bar connected at one end to said stationary bedding-box and at the other to one-of said sections, for constraining bodily lateral movement of the locked sections upon said beddingboX when swung together thereon.

2. In a convertible sofa-bed, a stationary bedding-box, pivotally-united seat and back sections mounted thereon and provided with means whereby they may be maintained in angular relation to be swung together thereon,

and means for constraining lateral movement of sa1d sections on the box when thus swung, in combination with supporting-trucks interposed between said box and the pivotal axis of said sections, comprising uprights and laterally-extending base portions.

3. In a convertible sofa-bed, a stationary bedding-box forming a base, pivotally-united seat and back sections thereon, and truckframes connected to said sections at their pivotalaxis and interposed between the same and said box, said truck-frames being each coniprised of a vertical upright and a laterallyextending base portion provided with antifriction-rollers on opposite sides of said upright. M

a. In a convertible sofa-bed, a stationary bedding-box forming a base, pivotally-united seat and back sections thereon and means for maintaining them in angular relation, in combination with truck-frames mounted for lateral movement on said bedding-box, and provided with uprights supporting said sections at their pivotal axis.

5. In a convertible sofa-bed, a stationary base, pivotally-united upholstered seat and back sections thereon and means for maintaining the same in angular relation, in combination with a truck-frame at each end of said united sections mounted for lateral movement on said stationary base and having uprights supporting said sections at their pivotal axis, said uprights being at least equal in length to the thickness of said upholstered sections.

6. In a convertible sofabed,.a stationary bedding-box and pivotally-united upholstered seat and back sections thereon, in combination with truck-frames mounted for lateral movement on said bedding-box having uprights supporting said sections at their pivotal axis, which uprights are equal in length to the thickness of said upholstered sections.

7. In a convertible sofa-bed, a stationary bedding-box forming a base, pivotally-united seat and back sections and means for holding them locked to swing together in the angular relation of a sofa, in combination with trucks at the ends of said sections supporting the same by their pivotal axis, whereby said locked sections may swing together with respect to said trucks, the said trucks being mounted to travel on the end boards of the said stationary bedding-box.

8. In a convertible sofa-bed, a stationary bedding-box, pivotally-united seat and back sections thereon and means for constraining bodily lateral movement of said sections when the seat is swung relatively to said box, in combination with a depending wall on said seat-section. forming a vertical closure to said bedding-box, when the device is serving as a couch.

9. In a convertible sofa-bed, a stationary bedding-box and pivotally-united seat and back sections supported for lateral movement on said box on parts within the exterior of the end boards thereof.

10. In a convertible sofa-bed, pivotallyunited seat and back sections, and trucks supporting the same, in combination with a stationary bedding-box supporting said trucks and provided with tracks disposed on the inside of the box for said trucks to travel upon.

11. In a convertible sofa-bed, pivotallyunited seat and back sections and trucks supporting the same at their pivotal axis, a stationary bedding-box supporting said trucks and provided with tracks for the same to travel upon, and retaining means adjacent to said track, in combination with horizontal projections on said trucks engaging said retaining gieans to hold the trucks upon the bedding- 12. In a convertible sofa-bed, pivotallyunited seat and back sections and trucks supporting the same, a stationary bedding-box provided with end boards, tracks formed on said end boards supporting said trucks, and means for maintaining said sections in angular relation and for releasing the same.

13. In a convertible sofa-bed, pivotallyunited seat and back sections, means for holding the same in fixed angular relation with respect to each other, and trucks supporting said sections in the region of their pivotal axis, in combination with a stationary bedding-box forming a base and supporting said trucks, and tracks located interiorly of the outer end boards of said box for said. trucks to travel upon.

14. In a convertible sofa-bed, pivotallyunited seat and back sections and trucks supporting the same, a stationary bedding-box provided with end boards and interior rabbets on said boards forming tracks for said trucks, in combination with plates closing the inner sides of said rabbets and projections on said trucks engaging slots in the plates.

15. In a convertible sofa-bed, pivotallyunited seat and back sections, and means for maintaining them in angular relation, trucks supporting said sections, in combination with a stationary bedding-box having tracks on the inside thereof for said trucks to travel upon, in combination with means disposed interiorly of the outer ends of said sections and bedding-box for constraining a bodily lateral movement of the trucks and pivotally-united sections when swung together.

16. In a convertible sofa-bed, pivotallyunited seat and back sections and a stationary bedding-box, the end boards of said sections and bedding-box being disposed in substantially the same planes at each end, in combination with means disposed interiorly of the outer faces of said end boards for permitting and guiding bodily lateral movement of the pivotally-united sections upon the beddingbox, and means also disposed interiorly 01 said outer end faces for constraining such bodily movement as the sections are manipulated together.

17. In a convertible sofa-bed, a stationary bedding-box, and pivotally-united seat and back sections supported thereon i'or bodily lateral movement, in combination with a throw-bar connected to said bedding-box and to the back-section and disposed to be concealed within slots formed in the end boards thereof.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to the specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

W'ILLIAM T. ROLIH.

l/Vitnesses:

GEORGE M. B. IIAWLEY, M. S. SABINE.

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