Patent Publication Number: US-7900999-B2

Title: Convertible seat with air mattress

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a seat with a section that pivots to form a bed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is directed to a convertible seat that converts between a seat position and bed position. The convertible seat has back cushions, seat cushions, armrests, a folding frame, and an air mattress. The folding frame includes a stationary bed section and a folding bed section that folds relative to the stationary bed section. While in a seat position, the folding bed section is positioned above the stationary bed section and the air mattress is located between the two sections. To achieve the bed position, the folding bed section is pivoted outward to form a bed surface. The air mattress is inflated to achieve a sleeping surface. Inflating the air mattress can be used to automatically deploy the folding frame from the seat position to the bed position. The stationary bed section can also slide or elongate to increase the sleep surface. Attached to the folding bed section is a support that supports a back cushion while in the seat position and supports the end of the folding bed section while in the bed position. The support can also re-orient to achieve the proper dimensions for the two functions. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawing figures illustrate seven forms of the present invention, in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a first embodiment of a convertible seat in the seat position, 
         FIG. 2  illustrates the first embodiment of the convertible seat in the bed position, 
         FIG. 3  is a side view taken of the convertible seat of  FIG. 1  with the armrest removed, 
         FIG. 4  is a side view taken of the convertible seat of  FIG. 2  with the armrest removed, and showing the removal of the seat and back cushions during deployment, 
         FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the folding frame of the first embodiment of the convertible seat in the seat position, 
         FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the folding frame of the first embodiment of the convertible seat in the seat position, 
         FIG. 7  is a side elevational view of the folding frame of the first embodiment of the convertible seat in the seat position, 
         FIG. 8  is a front elevational view of the folding frame of the first embodiment of the convertible seat in the seat position, 
         FIG. 9  is an isometric view of a hinge of the convertible seat, 
         FIG. 10  is a side elevational view of the hinge of the convertible seat, 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a convertible seat in the seat position, 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the convertible seat when initiating conversion between the seat position and bed position, 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the convertible seat when continuing conversion between the seat position and bed position, 
         FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the convertible seat when deployed in the bed position, 
         FIG. 15  is a side view of a third embodiment of the invention in the seat position, 
         FIG. 16  is a side view of the third embodiment of the invention when converting between the seat position and bed position, 
         FIG. 17  is a side view of the third embodiment of the invention when deployed in the bed position. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES EMBODYING THE BEST MODE OF THE INVENTION 
     A convertible seat  100  according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown in a seat position in  FIG. 1  and deployed in a bed position in  FIG. 2 . The convertible seat  100  includes back cushions  102 , seat cushions  104 , armrests  106 , a folding frame  108  between the armrests  106 , and a mattress  110 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a cross sectional view of the convertible seat  100  in the seat position, revealing the folding frame  108 . The folding frame  108  includes a support  112  which also serves as a leg when the invention is deployed in the bed position, folding bed section  114 , stationary bed section  116 , hinge  118 , and base  120 . The stationary bed section  116  is appropriately connected to the top of the base  120  in a conventional fashion (not illustrated), the hinge  118  connects the stationary bed section  116  and folding bed section  114 , and the support  112  extends upward from the folding bed section  114 . The seat cushions  104  are removable and rest on a seat surface  122  of the folding bed section  114  and the back cushions  102  and are also removable and rest against a back surface  124  of the support  112 .  FIG. 3  also shows the deflated air mattress  110  between the folding bed section  114  and stationary bed section  116 . 
       FIG. 4  shows the invention in the bed position. The back cushions  102  and seat cushions  104  have been removed. The folding bed section  114  has been pivoted outwardly in direction  138  about the hinge  118  to create a bed surface  126 . The bed surface  126  includes a head end  128  on top of the stationary bed section  116  and a foot end  130  opposite the seat surface  122  on the folding bed section  114 . The support  112  contacts the floor to serve as a support leg for the folding bed section  114 . The air mattress is shown on top of the bed surface  126  and is appropriately inflated in a conventional fashion to form a sleep surface  139 . 
     The inflation of the air mattress  110  can also be used to cause the folding bed section  114  to pivot or assist such pivoting. Additional support can be provided by the operator to the folding bed section  114  as it pivots to prevent it from abruptly landing. A spring mechanism (not illustrated) or other deployment aid can also be added to keep the folding bed section  114  from abruptly landing, or to assist in pivoting. 
     The folding frame  108  is shown in more detail in  FIGS. 5-10  with the other components of the convertible seat  100  for ease of illustration. The base  120  is shown to include “U” shaped support legs  132  on either side. In another embodiment, “U” shaped support legs  132  are replaced by an established surface or other conventional support. 
       FIG. 7  shows the head end  128  longer than the foot end  130 . In another embodiment, as seen in  FIG. 3 , the foot end  130  is longer than the head end  128 . The relative length of the head end  128  and foot end  130  can be varied to accommodate different mattress, motor, fill valve, release valve, and other equipment configurations. 
     In another embodiment (not shown), the support  112  and surface  124  is adjustable to account for taller or shorter individuals or cushion size to achieve a desired seat depth and back recline. The support  112  angle can be adjustable or the support can be repositioned along the foot end  130 . 
       FIGS. 9 and 10  show the hinge  118  in greater detail. The hinge  118  includes perpendicular web sections  134  to create a cavity  136  ( FIG. 3 ) between the folding bed section  114  and stationary bed section  116  in which to store or locate the mattress  110 . Mattress  110  can also be stored or located in a cavity formed by a recess in the stationary bed section  116  or indent in the folding bed section  114  or both (not illustrated). The mattress  110  is pliable to create an even sleeping surface  139  despite an uneven bed surface  126  created by hinge  118  or other means of accommodating stored mattress  110 . 
     A convertible seat  200  according to a second embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 11-14 . The convertible seat  200  includes an upper back cushion  202 , a lower back cushion  204 , a seat cushion  205 , armrests  206 , a folding mechanism  207 , a base  210 , and an air mattress  212 . 
     The folding mechanism  207  includes a slide mechanism  208 , a support  214 , a folding bed section  216 , a sliding bed section  218 , stationary slide support  220 , and hinge  222 . The stationary slide support  220  is appropriately connected to the base  210  and the sliding bed section  218  is slidably engaged in the stationary slide support  220 . The sliding bed section  218  slides relative to the stationary slide support  220  along grooves with the use of ball bearings or other conventional sliding mechanism which therefore is not shown in detail. Additional known mechanisms can also be used to elongate the bed. 
     As in the first embodiment of the invention, the hinge  222  connects the sliding bed section  218  and folding bed section  216 , and the support  214  extends upward from the folding bed section  216 . The deflated air mattress  212  lies between the folding bed section  216  and sliding bed section  218  in a cavity  236 . 
     The upper back cushion  202  is connected to the back of the base  210  and the lower back cushion  204  is attached to a front back surface  224  of the support  214 . Unlike the back cushions  102  of the first embodiment, the upper back cushion  202  and lower back cushion  204  may remain attached to the convertible seat  200  when converted to the bed position. 
     The seat cushion  205  is attached to a top seat surface  225  of the folding bed section  216 . Unlike the seat cushions  104  of the first embodiment, the seat cushion  205  also may remain attached to the convertible seat  200  when converted to the bed position. 
       FIGS. 11-14  show the conversion of the convertible seat  200  from a seat position shown in  FIG. 11  to a bed position shown in  FIG. 14 .  FIG. 12  shows a first step where the sliding bed section  218  is slid in a outward direction  232  relative to the stationary slide support  220 . The sliding movement allows for a smaller front to back depth dimension of the base  210  while still accommodating a sleep surface  239  of seventy plus inches. 
       FIG. 13  shows the folding bed section  216  being pivoted in an outward direction  234  about the hinge  222 .  FIG. 13  also shows the air mattress  212  partially inflated and assisting in the pivoting of the folding bed section  216 . In  FIG. 14  the folding bed section  216  fully pivoted in outward direction  234 , the support  214  contacts the floor and a bed surface  226  is formed. The bed surface  226  includes a head end  228  on top of the head sliding bed section  218  and a foot end  230  opposite the seat surface  225  on the folding bed section  216 .  FIG. 14  also shows the air mattress  212  fully inflated to create sleep surface  239 . 
       FIGS. 15-17  show a re-orienting support  302  as an alternative to support  112  of the first embodiment or support  214  of the second embodiment. The re-orienting support  302  has a stationary support  304 , sliding swing arm  306 , pivoting swing arm  308 , and a fixed support  310  for a permanently attached back cushion  312 . The stationary support  304  is attached to stationary bed section  314 . 
     One end  316  of the sliding swing arm  306  is pivotally attached to a bottom end  318  of the fixed support  310 . An opposite end  320  of the sliding swing arm  306  is slidably connected to a mid portion  322  of the stationary support  304  through a groove  324 . 
     One end  326  of the pivoting swing arm  308  is pivotally attached to the a mid portion  328  of the fixed support  310 . An opposite end  330  of the pivoting swing arm  308  is pivotally connected to an upper end  332  of the stationary support  304 . 
       FIG. 15  shows a seat position with the re-orienting support  302  being moved in an upward direction  334 .  FIG. 16  shows the re-orienting support  302  being rotated in a forward direction  336  and the sliding swing arm  306  moved relative to the stationary support  304  along groove  324  so that the back cushion  312  is stored when in the bed position. 
       FIG. 17  shows the bed position with the stationary bed section  314  pivoted outward to form the bed surface  339 , with inflated mattress  342  on top. The re-orienting support  302  allows for a higher back cushion  312  in the seat position and provides the desired foot height in the bed position. 
     The convertible seat  100  or  200  can be configured as a sofa in the seat position or it can be made narrower to be a love seat or chair. When configured as a sofa vs. a love seat or chair, the bed surface  126  or  226  will be wider than when in the bed position. The convertible seat  100  or  200  can also be configured and sized so that the user sleeps perpendicular to the support  112  or parallel to the support  112 . 
     The mattress can be inflated using an electric pump and controlled via a remote control unit. Mattress  110 ,  212 , and  342  also includes a conventional release valve to assist in quick deflation. 
     Features from the various embodiments described can be combined to configure new embodiments. For example, the slide folding mechanism  208  or the permanently attached seat cushion  205  of the second embodiment can be adapted to the first embodiment. 
     The invention can be used in motor homes, trailers, homes, offices, or other locations where both a seating and sleeping surface are needed. As can be seen from the numerous embodiments described above, various changes can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit thereof or scope of the following claims.