US2701603A - Combination bed and contour chair - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 8, 1955 R. COOPERSMITH COMBINATION BED AND CONTOUR CHAIR I Filed July 21, 1952 v 3 Sheets-Sheet l fmm PA [wPmM/r:

firm/wa e Feb. 8, 1955 R. COOPERSMITH 2,701,603

COMBINATION BED AND CONTOUR CHAIR 7 Filed July 21, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 rro P/vE ys Feb. 8, 1955' R. COOPERSMITH 2,701,603

COMBINATION BED AND CONTOUR CHAIR Filed July 21. 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 .ZW M WWZ m United States Patent COMBINATIGN BED AND CONTOUR CHAIR Rudolph Coopersmith, Clayton, Mo.

Application July 21, 1952, Serial No. 300,021

15 Claims. (Cl. 15545) This invention relates to folding furniture and is more particularly directed to a frame for furniture that may be folded to form a bed, a contour chair or compactly folded for storage in a comparatively small space.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a foldable frame for an article of furniture that may be used as a bed or a contour chair.

Another object of the invention is to provide a foldable frame for furniture that is adjustable to various positions for use as a contour chair or as a bed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a foldable furniture frame usable as a contour chair or a bed and which may also be compactly folded for storing in a comparatively small space.

The invention consists in the provision of a multi-section frame pivoted together in an end to end relationship having braces thereon that stiffen one end of the frame when unfolded to form a bed, the braces becoming arms when the frame is folded to form a chair.

The invention further consists in the provision of a bracing for a part of the bed frame When it is folded into its several positions as a chair.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a foldable frame embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof,

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the frame folded to one position as a contour chair,

Fig. 4 is a side elevational View of the frame folded to another position as a contour chair,

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the frame folded for storage purposes,

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the bed frame in a modified form of the invention,

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 6,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 88 of Fig. 7,

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 7,

P Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line 10-10 Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line 11l1 of Fig. 7,

Fig. 12 is a side elevational view of the frame folded into one position as a contour chair,

Fig. 13 is a side elevational view of the frame folded into another position as a contour chair,

Fig. 14 is a side elevational view of the frame folded for storage; and

Fig. 15 is an enlarged view of a structural detail of the bed frame.

The article of furniture is embodied in the structure shown in several views of the drawings. Fig. 2, which discloses the side elevation of the article of furniture, comprises a head section 1, a seat section 2, a bracing section 3 and a foot section 4. The head section is pivoted to the seat section by means of pins 5 and the seat section is pivoted to the bracing section by means of pins 6 and the bracing section is pivoted to the foot section by means of pins 7. The various sections are, therefore. serially connected and each is pivoted relative to the other for folding the article of furniture into a mattress supporting frame or for a contour chair as will be subsequently described. The article of furniture is supported on a base structure 8 provided with a plurality of casters 9 and comprises a pair of side bars 10 on "ice 5 base at each of the corners at one end thereof and a corner brace 13 is connected between the side bars 10 and the vertical bars 12 by a suitable fastening means. The other end of the base has bars 14 thereon in which one end thereof is pivoted to the other end of the base structure and the opposite ends are pivoted to extensions 15 of the bars of the bracing section by means of pins.

16. A reinforcing bar 17 is connected between the bars 12 thus producing a more rigid structure at that point of the furniture framework.

The head section 1 has a support 18 pivoted thereto on the flanges 18 secured to the side bars of the head section. The support 18 is preferably of a U-shape as shown in views for the modified form of the furniture frame and a bar 19 is connected between the corner brace 13 and the support 18. This bar is also employed on the opposite side of the support 18. Bars 20, part of a U- shaped member, are pivoted to opposite sides of the support 18 and are provided with a plurality of notches 21 engageable with pins 22 secured in the side members of the head section 1. The bars constitute a brace for the head section when it is unfolded to a mattress receiving position and when the head section is folded to form the back of a contour chair, the bars 20 constitute the arms for the chair.

The seat section 2 has a post 22 secured to each of the side bars thereof that is stiffened by a corner brace 23 connected between the post and the side member of the seat section. The posts are connected by a bar 22" for making a rigid U-shaped frame. This post is engageable with the side bars 10 of the brace when the frame is folded to one form of a contour chair position, as shown in Fig. 4, and stiffens the seat section for service as a chair.

The foot section 4 is provided with a pair of supports 24 and 25 pivoted to a flange 26 secured to the side bars of the foot section. The supports 24 and 25 are preferably of U-shape as is the support 18 for the head section. A bar 27 is connected between each of the supports 24 and each of the bars 14, there being a pivotal connection between the bar 27, the bar 14 and the support 24. The right hand end of the bar 27, as viewed in Fig. 2, has an upturned portion 28 that is engageable with the side bars of the bracing section 3. This upturned portion 28 engages the side bars and prevents relative motion of the bracing section and seat section when the frame has been folded into a contour chair formation. The support 25 is connected to a downturned portion 29 of the bars 10 of the base 8 by means of bars 30 thus completing the assembly of the contour chair. The downturned portion places the point of pivoting below the plane of the bars 10 for better performance of the folding operation. The various pivotal connections between the several bars or sections permits the parts to move relative to each other when the frame is adjusted from a mattress support structure to that of a contour chair.

Assuming that the frame is in the unfolded condition such as shown in Fig. 2 for supporting a mattress and is to be formed to a contour chair as shown in Fig. 3, the operator will release the bars 20 and the notches 21 from the pins 22 and then tilt the head section 1 upwardly about the pin connecting it with the vertical bars 12. This action will drop the seat section to the position shown in Fig. 3 for one adjustment of the chair. Simultaneously the bar 14 will pivot about its lower end to place the foot section 4 in an angular relationship with respect to the bracing section 3 so that the upturned end 28 of the bar 27 will engage the side bars thereof, thus tending to stiffen the seat section of the chair. The support 25 will pivot upwardly so that support 24 will hold the foot section 4 in desired position. When the bars 20 are adjusted to the Fig. 4 position, then the bracing section 3 and seat section 2 will conform to the position shown in Fig. 4 with the posts 22 in engagement with the bars 10 of the base structure 8. In this manner the same frame structure can be used for two or any number of different contour chair positions as well as for a mattress supporting frame as is illustrated in Fig. 2.

For storage purposes the foot section 4 is placed in a position substantially parallel to the head section and the bars are then brought into engagement with pins on the foot section with suitable notches 21 in the bars such as illustrated in Fig. 5. The bar member 20 which constituted a stiffener for the head section when the frame is employed as a bed structure now becomes a locking member for the furniture frame when it is folded to storage position. The downturned portion 29 of the base bar it) is provided to lower the pivotal point below the plane of bar 10 so that when the frame has been unfolded to a mattress supporting position it will cause the support to assume substantially vertical position. If this downturned portion were not provided then the support 25 would not assume the correct position with respect to the foot section 4.

A modified form of the invention is disclosed in Figs. 6 through 14 in which the mattress supporting frame comprises a head section 31, a seat section 32, a bracing section 33 and a foot section 34. The head section 31 is made up from a one piece right angular bar 35 bent into the form of a U so as to form the two sides and end piece of the section. The seat section 32 is made up of two side pieces 36, one end of each being pivoted to the side sections of the head member 31 by means of pins 37 and the other end of the seat section bars being connected to one of the side bars 38 of the bracing section 33 by means of pins 39. The foot section 34 is constructed similarly to the head section from a one piece or continuous bar 40 Whose free ends are pivotally connected to the other end of the bars 38 of the bracing section by means of pins 41. A bar 43 is located at the ends of bars 38 for producing a more rigid bracing section construction. The bar 43 also stiifens bracing section 33 while bars 44 and 45 stiffen the seat section 32 and head section 31 respectively. A wire fabric 46 is supported from the side and end bars of the several sections by means of springs 47 and constitutes the mattress support.

The article of furniture is provided with a base structure 48 comprising a pair of bars 49 whose ends support casters 50 there being two bars on the base section and suitable transverse bars are provided for increasing the mechanical strength thereof. A support 51 is pivoted to the head section 31 on flanges 52 and a bar 53 is pivotally connected to the support and to the free end of corner brace 54 for the vertical bar 55 connected between one end of the bars 49 and the seat section 32 of the mattress frame. The U bar 56 is pivoted to the support 51 and is provided with a plurality of notches 57 engageable with pins 53 set in the side bars of the head section 31.

The seat section 32 has each side piece 36 thereof provided with a post 59 reinforced by a corner brace 60 connected to the side pieces 36 of the seat section. The post 59 is engageable with the bars 49 of the base when the frame is folded into the form of contour chair shown in Fig. 13.

A bar 61 has its one end pivoted to one end of the bars 49 and the other end is pivoted to an extension 62 of the side bars 38 of the bracing section. The bar 43 and suitable corner braces (Fig. 9) are connected between bars 61 for stiifening the latter. The foot section 34 is equipped with a support 63 made up in the form of a U and each eg of the U is connected to the bar 44; by means of a pin 64. The bar 61 has a ratchet lever 65 pivoted thereto and engageable with suitable ratchet notches 66 cut into the bars 49 of the base 43. A bar 67 has its one end pivotally connected to support 63 at each side thereof and its other end is connected to bar 6.! by means of a pin and slot 68, this structure appearing on both sides of the frame. A bar 45 is connected between bars 55, and corner braces 70 are positioned thereon so that a rigid support is provided for the head section 31.

It is assumed that the article of furniture is in the unfolded position shown in Figs. 6 and 7 and it is desired to fold the same into a contour chair. This is done by releasing the bar 56 and the notches 57 therein from the pin 58 and tilting the head section 31 upwardly about the upper end of the bars 55. Simultaneously the seat section 32 will be lowered and the foot section 34 will be tilted about the end of the bars 61. This action will cause the ratchet levers 65 to engage different notches in the bars 49 to move them to the position shown in Fig. 12. Further upward tilting of the head section 31 will cause the ratchet lever 65 to assume the position shown in Fig. 13 and the bars 56 then becoming the arms for the contour chair. Under certain conditions of operation the operator will have to release the ratchet lever 65 from its notch when the frame is being folded from the Fig. 12 to the Fig. 13 position. Posts 59 in Fig. 13 rest on bars 49 thus stiffening the seat section.

The furniture frame can be folded into storage position such as shown in Fig. 14 by manually releasing the ratchet lever 65 from its notch, then placing the foot section vertically parallel with the head section and engaging the bar 56 with a pin in each of the bars in the foot section 34. Thus, the bars 56 assume another function, namely that of a locking member in the Fig. 14 position, arms for the contour chair in the Figs. 12 and 13 position and braces for the head section in the Fig. 6 position. A supplemental. lever 65 (Fig. 15) pivoted to ratchet lever 65 may be employed for keeping the lever out of engagement with notches 66.

The applicant has thus provided a foldable frame for furniture that can be adjusted to two or more positions as a contour chair depending upon the number of notches that are cut in the bars 56, provided that corresponding notches 66 are provided for positioning the ratchet lever 65 therein. It is apparent that the ratchet lever 65 must rest in a different notch for each position of the bar 56. The frame can be quickly unfolded for converting it into a bed structure, and by folding it to the Fig. 14 position can be conveniently stored during periods of non-use.

What I claim is:

1. A foldable furniture frame comprising a head section, a seat section, a bracing section and a foot section pivoted together in end to end relationship; a base structure for said sections; means for supporting the free end of the head section; means for bracing the head section to said base structure means; means for supporting the free end of said foot section; and means connected with said last mentioned supporting means and extending into abutment with said bracing section for stiffening said bracing section when the frame is folded into a contour chair.

2. A foldable furniture frame comprising a head section, a seat section, a bracing section and a foot section pivoted together in end to end relationship; a base structure for said sections; means for supporting the free end of the head section; means for bracing the head section to said base structure means; means for supporting the free end of said foot section; means connected with said last mentioned supporting means and extending into abutment with said bracing section for stiffening said bracing section when the frame is folded into a contour chair; and means on said seat section for stiffening same when said frame is folded into a different form of contour c an.

3. A foldable furniture frame comprising a base structure; a head section pivotally supported to one side of said base structure; a seat section having one end thereof pivoted to said head section; a bracing section pivoted to the other end of said seat section and pivotally supported on the other end of said base structure; a foot section pivotally secured to the other end of said base structure and to said bracing section; means pivoted to said base structure and to said head section for supporting same; means attachable to said head section and supporting means for stitfening the supporting means; means pivoted to said foot section and to said base structure for supporting the foot section; means pivoted to said foot support and said base for stiffening the bracing section; and means on said seat section engageable with the base for stiffening the section. 4. A foldable furniture frame comprising a base structure having rigid uprights at one end thereof and pivoted members on the other end thereof; a head section pivoted to the rigid uprights; a seat section, one end thereof being pivoted to said head section; a bracing section pivoted to the other end of said seat section and to the upper end of said pivoted members; legs pivoted to said head section for supporting same; an arm pivoted to said legs and to said head section to adjust the chair forming position of said seat and head sections; legs pivoted to said foot section for supporting same; means connected between said foot section supporting legs and said pivoted members and said base for stiffening same; and means on said seat section engageable with said base structure for stiffening said seat section.

5. A foldable furniture frame comprising a base structure; a head section pivotally supported to one side of said base structure; a seat section having one end thereof pivoted to said head section; a bracing section pivoted to the other end of said seat section and pivotally supported on the other end of said base structure; a foot section pivotally secured to the other end of said base structure and to said bracing section; means pivoted to said base structure and to said head section for supporting same; means attachable to said head section and supporting means for stiffening the supporting means; means pivoted to said foot section and to said base structure for supporting the foot section; and means pivoted to said foot support and said base for stiffening the bracmg section.

6. A foldable furniture frame comprising a base structure having rigid uprights at one end thereof and pivoted members on the other end thereof; a head section pivoted to the rigid uprights; a seat section, one end thereof being pivoted to said head section; a bracing section pivoted to the other end of said seat section and to the upper end of said pivoted members; legs plvoted to sa d head section for supporting same; an arm pivoted to said legs and to said head section to adjust the chair forming position of said seat and head sections; legs pivoted to said foot section for supporting same; and means connected between said foot section supporting legs and said pivoted members on said base for stiffening same.

7. A folding furniture frame comprising a head section, a seat section, a bracing section and a foot section, each of said sections pivoted together in end to end relation; a base structure; means for swingably supporting said bracing and head sections on said base structure; a support for said head section; means connected between said head support and said head section for supporting the head section in any one of a number of adjusted positions as a chair; means connected between said base structure and the head support for holding the latter in position; a first support for the foot section; a second support for the foot section; means connected between said base structure and the first support; and means connected between the second support and the first mentioned means, and hav ng a portion thereon engageable with the bracing section when frame is folded as a chair wherein the first support holds the foot section when the frame is unfolded as a bed and the second support holds the foot section when the frame is folded as a chair.

8. A foldable furniture frame comprising a head section, a seat section, a bracing section and a foot section; means for pivotally connecting said sections serially; a base structure; bar members connected between said base and one end of said bracing section; second bar members connected between said base and said head section; a support for said head section; means for adjusting and holding the head section in any one of a number of positions; a first support for said foot section; a second support for said foot section; means connected between said base structure and said first support; and means connected between each of said bar members and said second support and including means engageable with said bracing section, the first support holding the foot section when the frame is unfolded and the second support holding the foot section when the frame is folded as a chair.

9. A foldable furniture frame comprising a head section, a seat section, a bracing section and a foot section; a portable base structure including longitudinal bars at each side thereof, one end of each of the bars turning downwardly; a set of bars pivoted to one end of said base structure; a second set of bars secured to the other end of said base structure; a brace for said second set of bars; a support for the head section; adjustable locking bars connected between said support and said head section for holding the latter in any desired position'of adjustment; a bar connected between each of said braces and said support; a first support for said foot section; a second support for said foot sections; means connected between the downturned end of said base bars and said first support; and bars connected between said second support and said pivoted base bar and including an upturned end engageable with said bracing section, the -second support operable when the frame is folded as a chair, and wherein the upturned ends of the bar connected thereto engage said bracing section for stiffening same.

10. A foldable furniture frame comprising a head section, a seat section, a bracing section and a foot section; a base structure provided with side bars, one end of each side bar being bent downwardly; a bar pivoted to each side of said base near the downturned end portion of the base side bars and the other end pivoted to said bracing section; a bar having one end rigidly secured to the other end of each of said base side bars, the other end of each bar pivotally connected to said head section; a support for said head section; a bar pivotally connected between each rigid bar and said support; an adjustable bar connected between said support and said head section for holding the head section in a desired angle with respect to the horizontal; a pair of supports for said foot section; bars connecting one support with the downturned portion of base side bars; bars connecting the other foot section support with said bars pivoted to each side of the base and each having one end engageable with the bracing section; means on said seat section engageable with said bar for stiffening the seat section in certain positions of adjustment; and means on said foot section engageable with the head section adjusting bars for locking the frame in folded condition.

11. A foldable furniture frame comprising a head section, a seat section, a bracing section and a foot section serially connected; a base structure; a bar having one end thereof pivotally connected near the corner at one end of said base structure, and the other end thereof pivoted to one end of said bracing section; a second substantially vertical bar having one end rigidly secured to the opposite end of said base and the other end thereof pivoted to said head section; a support for said head section; a bar connected between each of said substantially vertical bars and said head section support; ad ustable bars pivoted to said head section support and engageable with said head section for holding same in any selected position of adjustment; support means for said foot section; bars connecting said support means and said pivoted bars on said base; means on said seat section engageable with said base for stiffening said seat section when the frame is folded in one position for a chair; and means on said foot sect on engageable with the bars pivoted to said head section support for holding the frame in folded condition.

1 2. A foldable furniture frame comprising a head sect on, a seat section, a bracing section and a foot section serially pivotally connected; a base structure provlded with longitudinal side bars; a substantially vertical bar having one end thereof rigidly secured to each corner of one end of said base structure, the other end of sald rigid bars pivotally connected to said head section; a support for said head section; a bar connected between each vertical bar and said support; a bar pivotally connected to said support and engageable with said head section for holding same in adjusted position; a bar having one end pivotally connected to each corner on the opposite end of the base structure, the other end thereof pivoted to said bracing section; a support for said foot section; a bar connected between each pivoted bar on said base and said foot section support; means on said seat section for stiffening same when in engagement with said base; and a ratchet bar pivoted to said pivoted bars on said base structure and engageable with ratchet teeth in said base bars for aiding in holding said foot section in selected position of adjustment.

13. A foldable furniture frame comprising a head section, a seat section, a bracing section and a foot section, connected in an end to end relation; a base structure having longitudinally extended bars at its side provided with ratchet notches; a substantially vertical bar pivotally connected to one end of said base structure bars; a bar pivotally connected to the other end of said base structure bars; a support for said head section; a bar having one end connected between said vertical bars and said support; a bar pivoted to each side of said support and engageable with said head section; a support for said foot section; a bar connected between each pivoted bar on said base structure and said support; a

lever pivoted to each of said pivoted bars on said base and selectively engageable with said ratchet notches; means on said seat section engageable with said base for stiffening said seat section when the frame is folded for a chair frame; and means on said footsection engagcable with said head section adjusting bars for locking the frame in its folded condition.

14. A foldable furniture frame comprising a head section, a seat section, a bracing section and a foot section serially pivotally connected; a base structure provided with longitudinal side bars; a substantially vertical bar having one end thereof rigidly secured to each corner of one end of said base structure, the other end of said rigid bars pivotally connected to said head section; a support for said head section; a bar connected between each vertical bar and said support; a bar pivotally connected to said support and engageable with said head section for holding same in adjusted position; a bar having one end pivotally connected to each corner on the opposite end of the base structure, the other end thereof pivoted to said bracing section; a support for said foot section; a bar connected between each pivoted bar on said base and said foot section support; and means on said scat section for stiffening same when in engagement: with said base.

15. A foldable furniture frame comprising a head section, a seat section, a bracing section and a foot sectiQn, connected in an end to end relation; a base structure having longitudinally extended bars at its side provided with ratchet notches; a substantially vertical bar pivotally connected to one end of said base structure bars; a bar pivotally connected to the other end of said base structure bars; a support for said head section; a bar having one end connected between said vertical bars and said support; a bar pivoted to each side of said support and engageable with said head section; a support for said foot section; a bar connected between each pivoted bar on said base structure and said support; a lever pivoted to each of said pivoted bars on said base and selectively engagcable with said ratchet notches; and means on said foot section engageable with said head section adjusting bars for locking the frame in its folded condition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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