Abstract:
The invention is directed to a sofa-bed combination, having an inflatable air mattress, rather than a foam or spring mattress. A bed base would pull out from sofa base to provide sufficient support for the air mattress. Contained within storage spaces in the arms of the sofa would be an inflatable bladder forming a mattress. The sofa-bed features an electric air pump, which would rapidly inflate and deflate the mattress for use or stowage.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 120 of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 14/245,029, filed Apr. 16, 2014 which claimed priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/812,783, filed Apr. 17, 2013, which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX 
       [0004]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The invention relates generally to multi-purpose furniture, and in particular to a sofa-bed air mattress combination. To save space in small apartment, condominiums and mobile homes, various configurations of multi-purpose furniture have long been in use that can serve as a sofa by day, and as a bed by night. One such configuration folds a mattress into itself beneath seating cushions. The mattress and frame, however, are massive and heavy, taking up space within the design and adding substantial weight. The cross members necessary to support the mattress are also uncomfortable for the user. Replacing the conventional mattress with an air mattress that is stowed in an arm of the sofa would take up much less space, and add less weight to the design. Particularly for overnight guests, this would provide a comfort advantage over a standard pull-out bed, and a convenience and practicality advantage over conventional mattresses. 
         [0006]    A search of the prior art reveals various sofa beds which have been developed to serve as a sofa by day, and as a bed by night. None are closely related to the present invention, but several include features which resemble those of the present invention. Each has proven to be less than satisfactory in its own way. The present invention has been developed for the purpose of addressing and resolving these disadvantages. 
         [0007]    Sofa bed with inflatable mattress, U.S. Pat. No. 4,442,556 (filed Mar. 1, 1983), provides a sofa bed including a fixed frame which is provided with a conventional foldable, sectional sofa bed frame. The sofa bed frame is foldable and unfoldable between collapsed and extended positions in a conventional manner. The sofa had also includes a sectional mattress which includes inner, outer and intermediate inflatable mattress sections which are hingedly connected together. The mattress sections in the unfolded condition serve as a full mattress, and when in the folded condition constitute part of the sofa. 
         [0008]    Chair, U.S. Pat. No. 2,494,838 (filed Dec. 29, 1945), provides a chair or divan especially one of the upholstered or overstuffed type, whose arm rests are convertible into tables for writing, supporting refreshments, or the like, by virtue of a pair of coaxial plates or boards hinged together along one edge so that one may be moved to overlie the other in one position and become parallel with the latter in another position. The movable board is upholstered on one side while the opposite side, as is the exposed side of a companion board is appropriately finished to constitute jointly with the other a table top in which the flanges of the hinges, preferably of the piano type, are countersunk. 
         [0009]    Seating/sleeping systems and methods, U.S. Patent Appl. Publ. No. 2007/0006384 (filed Jun. 28, 2005), provides a seating/sleeping system which includes: a lower support layer; a cushion that is located above the support layer and that is supported by the support layer, the cushion being configured to support buttocks of a person sitting on the seating/sleeping system; a back support layer that is located above the lower support layer, the back support layer being configured to support a back of a person sitting on the seating/sleeping system; and an air mattress that is connected to the seating/sleeping system and that is located within the seating/sleeping system, the air mattress configured to be inflated while remaining connected to the seating/sleeping system. 
         [0010]    Mattress guard, U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,261 (priority Mar. 20, 1985), provides a mattress guard for use in a convertible sofa bed having an air inflatable mattress supported on the mattress support of a folding bed mechanism frame. The mattress guard includes a pair of flexible guard members adapted to be placed on opposed edges of the mattress, elastic straps resiliently securing the guard members together along the top surface of the mattress and attachment devices for securing the guard members to the mattress support below the mattress. The guard members hold the bedding for the mattress securely against the mattress and prevent it from becoming entrapped in the folding mechanism when the bed is folded. In addition, the mattress will be compressed when air is released therefrom prior to folding of the sofa bed to space its edges away from the mechanism. 
         [0011]    Most of these inventions provide furniture designs with storage compartments. Some of these inventions provide air mattresses, but provide heavy and uncomfortable bed frames and cross members which provide no improvement over the traditional pull-out folding bed. This creates various disadvantages. The furniture is difficult to move, either for the purpose of relocating to a new residence, or for the purposes of rearranging the furniture or cleaning. Furthermore, the bed is uncomfortable and does not provide a good night&#39;s sleep. These disadvantages make the prior art inventions less than ideal. The present invention, which provides a solid shell bed base without a frame, resolves the disadvantages of the prior art and is not anticipated by the prior art. 
         [0012]    A sofa-bed air mattress combination, which provides a solid shell bed base and a folded air mattress stored in an arm of the sofa, would help to resolve these disadvantages. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    Accordingly, the invention is directed to a sofa-bed air mattress combination, having an inflatable air mattress, rather than a foam or spring mattress. A bed base would pull out from beneath the frame of the sofa. Contained within a storage compartment in an arm of the sofa would be an inflatable bladder forming an air mattress. The sofa-bed features an electric air pump, which would rapidly inflate and deflate the mattress for use or storage. 
         [0014]    Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated into and constitute a part of the specification. They illustrate one embodiment of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  shows a front perspective view of the first exemplary embodiment, displaying the sofa, the first storage compartment, the arms, and the air mattress. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  shows a front perspective view of the first exemplary embodiment, displaying the sofa, the second storage compartment, and the electric air pump. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  shows a front perspective view of a left portion of the first exemplary embodiment with a door opened, displaying the sofa, the first storage compartment, the air mattress. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  shows a front perspective view of a right portion of the first exemplary embodiment with a door opened, displaying the sofa, and the electric air pump. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  shows a front perspective view of a third exemplary embodiment displaying the sofa and a sliding extendable base. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  shows a front perspective view of a fourth exemplary embodiment displaying the sofa and a folding extendable base. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  shows a front perspective view of the fourth exemplary embodiment displaying the sofa with the mattress inflated. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    Referring now to the invention in more detail, the invention is directed to a sofa-bed combination, having an inflatable air mattress, rather than a foam or spring mattress. An air mattress  13  is pulled out from a storage compartment  12  within one of the arms  11  of the sofa  10 . The sofa base  30  of the sofa  10  provides a solid shell and is sized to accommodate sofa cushions  31 . The sofa base  30  is formed by a plurality of sections such that the sofa base  30  is capable of extending outward to form a bed base  32 . The bed base  32  is sized to accommodate the air mattress  13  when inflated. The bed base  32  has no wire or member frame or cross members which are found in traditional fold out couches. Thus, the bed base  32  provides greater comfort when the sofa-bed combination is used as a bed because it provides even support for the mattress. The bed base  32  is preferably manufactured from a rigid or semi-rigid durable material with a high ratio of tensile strength to weight, such as titanium alloy or para-aramid synthetic fiber (Kevlar™). The air mattress  13  features a connection valve. One of the two arms  11  of the sofa  10  features an electric air pump  16  within a second storage compartment  15 , which would rapidly inflate and deflate the air mattress  13  for use or storage. The electric air pump  16  features a three-way switch, which can be used to select inflation or deflation, or shut off the electric air pump  16 . The power supply for the electric air pump  16  would preferably be standard household current, accessed via a wire connected to a grounded wall outlet. 
         [0024]    In the first exemplary embodiment, as illustrated by  FIGS. 1-4 , the air mattress  13  is folded and stored within a first storage compartment  12  within one of the two arms  11  of the sofa  10 , and is accessible via a door  14 . The electric air pump  16  is removably or fixedly mounted within either the same first storage compartment  12  or a second storage compartment  15 . The electric air pump  16  may be stored opposite the air mattress  13 , or may be stored together within the same storage compartment  12 , or the electric air pump  16  may be integral to the air mattress  13 . The air mattress  13  may be entirely separate, or may be removably affixed to the sofa  10 , to allow replacement in case of damage; example fasteners include elastic cordage, strips of hook and loop fastener, snaps, etc. The user may also upgrade or otherwise change the air mattress  13  used in conjunction with the sofa  10  to meet their needs. 
         [0025]    To use the first exemplary embodiment, the user removes the cushions  31  from the sofa  10 , unfolds the sofa base  30  to form the bed base  32 , and then opens both doors  14  and  17  found in both arms  11  of the sofa  10 . The user removes the air mattress  13  from one of the arms of the sofa  10 , unfolds the air mattress  13  across the bed base  32 , then connects the air mattress  13  to the electric air pump  16 . The user then turns the three-way switch on the electric air pump  16  to select inflation. 
         [0026]    As the air mattress  13  inflates, the increasing size and air pressure of the air mattress  13  will cause the air mattress  13  to fully unfold across the bed base  30  of the sofa  10 , and will be supported evenly by the bed base  32 . When the air mattress  13  is fully inflated, the user shuts off the electric air pump  16  using the three-way switch, closes the connection valve, and disconnects the air mattress  13  from the electric air pump  16 . The electric pump  16  can then be stowed in one of the arms  11  of the sofa  10 , within one of the storage compartments ( 12  or  15 ). To restore the sofa  10  to its original configuration, the user connects the air mattress  13  to the electric air pump  16 , opens the connection valve, and uses the three-way switch to select deflation. During the course of deflation, the user gradually folds up the air mattress  13 . When the air mattress  13  is fully deflated, the user shuts off the electric air pump  16  using the three-way switch, disconnects the air mattress  13 , stows the air mattress  13  in one of the arms  11  of the sofa  10 , within one of the storage compartments ( 12  or  15 ) closes both doors ( 14  and  17 ), and replaces the cushions  31  on the sofa  10 . 
         [0027]    In a second embodiment of the invention the sofa base  30  is formed by a combination of a sliding base  21  and an inner base  23 . The sliding base  21  is a hollow shell which fits over an inner base  23 . When the sliding base  21  is stored over the inner base  23 , the combination forms the sofa base  30  such that the size and shape of the sofa base  30  is the same as the sofa cushions  31 . The sliding base  21  can be extended outwardly from the inner base  23  to form the bed base  32 . The sliding base  21  slides along tracks  22  on the top surface of the inner base  23 . When fully extended, the sliding base  21 , when combined with the inner base  23 , form a bed base  32  which provides a larger area of support that is sized and shaped with the same dimensions as the air mattress  13 . The air mattress  13  can then be inflated in much the same way as the first embodiment. 
         [0028]    In a third embodiment of the invention the sofa base  30  is formed by a folding base  24  positioned on top of a lower base  25 . When in a stowed position, the folding base  24  rests on top of a lower base  25 , the combination forms the sofa base  30  such that the size and shape of the sofa base  30  is the same as the sofa cushions  31 . When extended, the folding base  24  rotates around a connected edge  40  to lie flat and adjacent to the lower base  25 . When rotated out and sitting adjacent, the sliding base  21 , when combined with the inner base  23 , form a bed base  32  which provides a larger area of support that is sized and shaped with the same dimensions as the air mattress  13 . The air mattress  13  can then be inflated in much the same way as the first embodiment. There may be multiple folding base  24  sections such that multiple sections lie adjacent to each other after being unfolded from the sofa base  30  position. 
         [0029]    The frame of the sofa  10  and the doors ( 14  and  17 ) would preferably be manufactured from durable, rigid materials such as steel, aluminum, and wood. The padding of the sofa  10  and the doors ( 14  and  17 ) would preferably be manufactured from foam rubber and cotton batting, covered with flexible upholstery materials that are easily cleaned, such as wool, cotton, a cotton-rayon blend, a cotton-polyester blend, or leather. The air mattress  13  would preferably be manufactured from a durable, flexible material capable of inflation, such as plastic or rubber. The sofa base  30 , bed base  32 , the sliding base  21 , inner base  23 , folding base  24 , and lower base  25  would preferably be manufactured from a rigid or semi-rigid durable material with a high ratio of tensile strength to weight, such as titanium alloy or para-aramid synthetic fiber (Kevlar™). Components, component sizes, and materials listed above are preferable, but artisans will recognize that alternate components and materials could be selected without altering the scope of the invention. 
         [0030]    While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is presently considered to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should, therefore, not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.