Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US6401276
Timestamp: 2014-07-11 11:34:35
Document Index: 797555204

Matched Legal Cases: ['arts 116', 'arts 116', 'art 116', 'art 116', 'arts 116', 'arts 116', 'arts 116', 'arts 116', 'arts 116']

Patent US6401276 - Transfigurable furniture unit - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign in<nobr>Advanced Patent Search</nobr>PatentsA convertible furniture unit has a base and a bed platform pivotally connected to the base for angular displacement about a first axis from an upright stowed position with respect to the base, to a substantially horizontal use position. The platform has an upper surface in the use position that is adapted...http://www.google.com/patents/US6401276?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6401276 - Transfigurable furniture unitAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS6401276 B1Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 09/662,537Publication dateJun 11, 2002Filing dateSep 15, 2000Priority dateJan 3, 2000Fee statusPaidAlso published asEP1246554A2, EP1246554A4, US6691342, US20020148041, WO2001049149A2, WO2001049149A3Publication number09662537, 662537, US 6401276 B1, US 6401276B1, US-B1-6401276, US6401276 B1, US6401276B1InventorsLoren ShermanOriginal AssigneeLoren ShermanExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (23), Referenced by (17), Classifications (15), Legal Events (3) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetTransfigurable furniture unitUS 6401276 B1Abstract A convertible furniture unit has a base and a bed platform pivotally connected to the base for angular displacement about a first axis from an upright stowed position with respect to the base, to a substantially horizontal use position. The platform has an upper surface in the use position that is adapted to support a mattress, and an opposite surface. A table panel has a first end that is pivotally mounted to the opposite surface of the platform for relative displacement between the platform and the panel about a second axis which is spaced from the first axis so that the panel is in a support position when the platform is in the use position, and the panel is in a working position when the platform is in the stowed position. An extension or foot is pivotally connected to the table panel at a location that is spaced from the first end of the panel, for rotation of the extension or foot between an upper position for propping the panel in its working position, and a lower position. The extension or foot pivots about a third axis which is spaced from the first and second axes and includes a part for supporting the panel in the support position when the extension or foot is in its lower position.
What is claimed is: 1. A convertible furniture unit, comprising:
a base; a bed platform pivotally connected to the base for angular displacement about a first axis from an upright stowed position with respect to the base, to a substantially horizontal use position, the platform having an upper surface in the use position that is adapted to support a mattress, and an opposite surface; a table panel having a first end pivotally mounted to the opposite surface of the platform for relative displacement between the platform and the panel about a second axis which is spaced from the first axis so that the panel is in a support position when the platform is in the use position, and the panel is in a working position when the platform is in the stowed position; and a foot pivotally connected to the table panel at a location that is spaced from the first end of the panel, for rotation of the foot between an upper position for propping the panel in its working position, and a lower position, about a third axis which is spaced from the first and second axes, the foot including a foot portion for supporting the panel in the support position when the foot is in the lower position; the foot comprising a leg, an,extension fixed to the leg and extending from the leg substantially perpendicularly, the extension and leg being pivotally connected to the table panel at the third axis, and the foot portion located at affixable spacing from the base, the foot portion being pivotally connected at a fourth axis to the leg, the fourth axis being spaced from the third axis by a distance equal to a spacing between the first and second axes. 2. A unit according to claim 1, including a spreader for fixing a position between at least part of the foot and the base when the bed platform is in the use position.
a base; a bed platform pivotally connected to the base for angular displacement about a first axis from an upright stowed position with respect to the base, to a substantially horizontal use position, the platform having an upper surface in the use position that is adapted to support a mattress, and an opposite surface; a table panel having a first end pivotally mounted to the opposite surface of the platform for relative displacement between the platform and the panel about a second axis which is spaced from the first axis so that the panel is in a support position when the platform is in the use position, and the panel is in a working position when the platform is in the stowed position; a foot pivotally connected to the table panel at a location that is spaced from the first end of the panel, for rotation of the foot between an upper position for propping the panel in its working position, and a lower position, about a third axis which is spaced from the first and second axes, the foot including a foot portion for supporting the panel in the support position when the foot is in the lower position; and a backstop connected to the bed platform at a location adapted to fix a position of a mattress on the bed platform in the stowed position, the bed platform including an extension extending into the base, a block with a curved surface mounted on the platform extension, and at least one spring connected between the base and the backstop and extending across the curved surface, the spring being extended when the platform moves from its stowed position to its use position for resisting movement of the platform to its use position. 25. A unit according to claim 24 wherein the curvature of the curved surface of the block is selected to control biasing forces applied to the bed platform by the spring.
a base; a bed platform pivotally connected to the base for angular displacement about a first axis from an upright stowed position with respect to the base, to a substantially horizontal use position, the platform having an upper surface in the use position that is adapted to support a mattress, and an opposite surface; a table panel having a first end pivotally mounted to the opposite surface of the platform for relative displacement between the platform and the panel about a second axis which is spaced from the first axis so that the panel is in a support position when the platform is in the use position, and the panel, is in a working position when the platform is in the stowed position; a foot pivotally connected to the table panel at a location that is spaced from the first end of the panel, for rotation of the foot between an upper position for propping the panel in its working position, and a lower position, about a third axis which is spaced from the first and second axes, the foot including a foot portion for supporting the panel in the support position when the foot is in the lower position; tensioning means operatively connected to the bed platform for resisting movement of the bed platform from its stowed position to its use position, the tensioning means comprising at least one spring connected between the base and the bed platform; and a block having a curved surface over which at least part of the spring extends for controlling biasing force of the spring being applied to the bed platform as the bed platform moves between its stowed and use positions. Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/476,757 filed Jan. 3, 2000 now abandoned.
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in general to transformable furniture., and in particular, to a new and useful furniture unit that converts between a bed position and a table position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a convertible furniture unit that has a base and a bed platform pivotally connected to the base for angular displacement about a first axis from an upright stowed position with respect to the base, to a substantially horizontal use position. The platform has an upper surface in the use position that is adapted to support a mattress. A table panel has a first end that is pivotally mounted to an opposite surface or underside of the platform for relative displacement between the platform and the panel about a second axis which is spaced from the first axis so that the panel is in a support position when the platform is in the use position, and the panel is in a working position to serve as a table, desk or work surface when the platform is in the stowed position. An extension or foot is pivotally connected to the table panel about a third axis at a location that is spaced from the first end of the panel, for rotation of the extension or foot between an upper position for propping the table panel in its working position, and a lower position. The extension or foot pivots on the table panel about the third axis which is spaced from the first and second axes and includes a part for supporting the table panel and the bed platform thereon, in its support position when the extension or foot is in its lower position.
The table panel can be a solid board, an engineered panel of laminates and frame or a three-dimensional structure with spaces for drawers, storage areas or the like. It can be used as a dining table, writing table, desk, work surface or similar article of furniture. The table panel includes a second end or edge, opposite to the first end. When the bed platform is moved to the lowered use position, the extension and a leg fixed to the extension are automatically folded to a load-bearing mode for supporting the bed platform. Concurrently with the movement of the bed platform, a head-board with top shelf is deployed. A stiffener or spreader member or means is forwardly extendable for stabilizing the furniture unit in one embodiment of the invention. In another embodiment, the spreader is fixed to the base and extends under the table panel permanently to support the table panel in both its working and support positions. In still another embodiment, the foot is fixed directly to the floor without the use of a spreader member. For ease of reference, this embodiment is also referred to as using �spreader means� in the sense that the distance between the foot and the base is fixed. This fixed spreader means better allows the unit to be free standing. In the first embodiment which also allows the table panel to move up into a stored position, the base, could be fastened to the wall for extra safety. A spring, an optional damping device and/or a counterweight are utilized for controlling movement of the bed platform to and from the upright stowed position and the horizontal use position. Alternatively, a motor driven activator can be employed to raise and lower the bed platform.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2�2 of FIG. 1 showing a bed platform and a mattress in an upright stowed position;
FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view, taken along line 6�6 of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is an auxiliary view, taken along line 7�7 of FIG. 5, with a portion broken away;
FIG. 11 is a side elevational view in section taken along line 11�11 of FIG. 10 showing the bed platform and the mattress in the stowed position with the table panel in the functional mode;
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings in which the same reference numerals are used to designate the same or functionally similar parts, the invention embodied therein, in FIGS. 1 and 2, comprises a transfigurable furniture unit generally designated 20, in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention. The furniture unit 20 includes a base having two spaced-apart upright side panels 22, 24 and a back panel 26 that is connected to and extends between the side panels 22, 24. As shown in FIG. 2, a base plate 28, optional lower cross-brace 30 and optional upper cross-brace 32, provides structural integrity for the base. A shelf member 34 and a sill plate 36 also contribute to the strength and stability of the furniture unit base.
By way of further example, the furniture unit 20 may be constructed of solid lumber, glued laminated lumber, plywood, or similar materials and the respective components can be joined together with doweled joints, screws, and/or dovetail connectors. The pivot connections throughout are preferably hinge connectors, such as a �piano� hinge, tape hinge, double-leaf hinge or equivalent. The hinge may be a sole-called �invisible� hinge or knife hinge.
To maintain the parallelogram geometry of the invention which permits the unit to move from its table orientation in FIG. 12 to its bed orientation in FIG. 14, it is also significant that the table panel 64 is pivotally connected to the undersurface of bed platform. 38 at the second axis 66 which is near an upper surface of panel 64. The third axis 72, between panel 64 and the leg means 68, 70, 74, must be near the bottom surface of 64. If this selected locationing of axes 66, 72 is not observed, the unit will not be able to fully attain the positions in FIG. 12 or 14, or both (that is the parallelogram will �bind�). It is also significant that the spacing between first and second axes 40, 66 is equal to the spacing between third and fourth axes 72, 76, which spacing equals the length of leg 70. The combined length of foot 74 and leg 70 when the table is in its working position of FIG. 12 also establishes the total vertical height of the working surface of panel 64 and is equal to the vertical height of sill plate 36, plus the spacing between first and second axes 40, 66.
The relative lengths of the head-board 114, shelf-board 116, and backstop 118, are determined so that the head-board and shelf-board components unfold from their flat stowed position shown in FIG. 12 to pass through transitional positions shown in FIG. 13, both in solid line and phantom lines, to finally arrive in their use positions shown in FIG. 14. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 12, 13 and 14, the shelf-board 116 must be in two parts with means for spreading the parts apart from each other by a short distance, and then coming back together. When the platform is in the storage position, these two parts of the shelf are separated from each other by a gap G in FIG. 12. During the first part of the mattress rotation forward, the first thing that happens to the shelf is that this gap between the two parts 116 a, 116 b closes. Only after the gap closes does the shelf and head-board assembly start to pivot out toward their use position. Without this additional articulation of the shelf in two parts, the shelf and head-board would be pivoting out into a space that is still being occupied by the mattress. In other words, as-one starts to tilt the platform forward, the closing movement of the shelf-board allows time for the the closing movement of the shelf-board allows time for the mattress to �get out of the way� of the space into which the head-board and shelf are going to unfold.
In the embodiment illustrated, parts 116 a and 116 b have corresponding and aligned holes drilled in a number of locations along the mated edges of these parts, e.g. four sets of holes. Rods of metal, plastic or other strong rigid material are fixed into the holes of part 116 a, e.g. by gluing or screwing. Each rod is long enough so that an opposite free end of each rod slidably extends into the corresponding hole of part 116 b. In this way parts 116 a, 116 b slide with respect to each other to increase and decrease the gap G shown in FIG. 17. Springs, elastic bands or other means are provided to bias parts 116 a, 116 b toward each other, and means other than rods in aligned holes can be used to allow shelf-board 116 to �expand� and contract according to the invention. For example, parts 116 a, 116 b and can slide in a common track, or be made of flat stock that telescope against each other or other ways can be used that allow parts 116 a, 116 b to move apart from each other, forming gap G, and then spring back to close the gap under the influence of biasing means such as a heavy rubber band or other elastic restoring device for pulling parts 116 a, 116 b together.
The curvature of block 56 can also be selected to improve the tensioning characteristics of springs 58 on the downward movement of bed platform 38. Rather than quarter circles as in the embodiment of FIGS. 12-16, the curvature of block 56 can have a cam configuration shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, with greater curvature at the top end of the block than at the other end for slowly increasing the effective biasing of spring 58 as the bed is lowered so that a small amount of biasing force is applied near the top of the stroke when little rotational force is being exerted on first axis 40, to a point later in the stroke when more of the weight of bed platform 38 and mattress. 62 is being applied around first axis 40. The cam surface is also shaped so that the spring force is purposely weakened by decreased mechanical advantage (by a smaller radius at the appropriate part of the cam shape) for approximately the last 10� of rotation to the use position. The purpose of this is to allow strong enough springs to be used to counterbalance the weight of the platform and the table, but still allow the platform to finish the last part of its downward rotational travel and stay firmly down in the use position.
In other words, as one folds the bed down, the table top lands first, while the platform is still up by 10� or so. If strong enough springs are used to fully balance the combined weight of the platform and tabletop, they will be too strong to allow the platform to travel those last 10�, so the platform will actually float back up a bit. The cam shape thus purposely weakens the extra spring strength at the end of the stroke so that the platform lands positively.
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