Patent ID: 6108833
Filing Date: 2000-08-29
Classification: A47C

Abstract:
A futon, comprising:a frame having a pair of spaced-apart legs;a first platform resting against said frame;a second platform coupled to said first platform, said second platform having a plurality of planks and a panel-board, with an end of each of said plurality of planks being coupled to one of the remaining planks of said plurality of planks, forming a plurality of junctions, said plurality of planks defining a perimeter enclosing an area that lies in a first plane against which a force is directed transversly to said first plane, with said panel-board extending across said area between opposed regions of said perimeter;a force spreading mortise plate positioned at one of said plurality of junctions, said mortise plate having a mortise member and a hook member, with said hook member lying in a second plane orientated to extend transversely to both said force and said mortise member, and said mortise member being disposed between said end and the remaining plank and said hook member extending adjacent to the remaining plank; anda plurality of fasteners, a first group of said plurality of fasteners extending between said end and the remaining plank so as to pass through said mortise member and a second group of said plurality of fasteners passing through said hook member, wherein forces exerted upon said plurality of fasteners and said mortise plate are distributed between both said mortise member and said hook member, thereby reducing the force per unit area exerted upon said junction.