AN IMPROVED DIVAN OR SOFA CONVERTIBLE INTO A. BED, COUCH, OR CRIB
Year: 1884

page_text: I, ALBERT DARBORD of 37 bis, Rue Carnot, Levallois (Seine) in the Republic of
France, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "AN
IMPROVED DIVAN OR SOFA CONVERTIBLE INTO A. BED, COUCH, OR CRIB," and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:
This invention has for object to construct a divan or sofa capable of immediate
conversion into a bed couch or cradle and in order to make my invention fully
understood, I proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying
sheet of drawings which illustrates by way of example, the frame work of a divan
or sofa, this being the part to which my invention more particularly applies; so
that it will be understood the form and style of the article of furniture may be
varied in any desired manner.
Fig 1 is a front view, the front and end boards of the box or frame being
removed.
Figs 2 and 3 are end views and Fig 4 is a vertical section on line 15-16.
Fig 5 is a plan, and Fig 6 a front view shewing the positions of the parts that
obtain when the sofa or divan is converted into a bed of greatest length. In this
view the front board of the box or frame is removed. Figs 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11. are
detail views of the iron fittings which serve to unite the various parts of the said
divan or sofa. Figs 12, 13 and 14 are diagrams illustrating the mode in which
the various conversions of my improved divan or sofa are effected. A is the back
board of the box or frame of the divan and B is the front board of the same. The
two boards A. and B are joined by the end boards C. for the right side and D for
the left side, the four boards A. B. C. D thus jointed forming the box E of the
divan; the lower part of this box is closed by a bottom piece and the upper edges
of the same support the seat F hinged upon the end boards C. and D. G. G¹ are
branches or arms forming hinge joints articulated at a to the end boards C. and D,
and at a to the internal sides of the seat F. H is a spring, fixed to the board A,
acting upon the back of the seat F in order to bring it forward so as to permit of'
the box or frame E being opened. I is a pin fixed to the front of the seat F which
enters a notch arranged inside the front board B when the seat F closes the box E.'

page_text: J. J are stop pins for the branches or arms G. G' fixed to the end boards C and D.
K. K' are fittings formed of two guides b. b' having the shape shown at Fig 2ª and
joined by means of two cross-bars c. c. The distance between the guides b
and b is equal to the height of the back board A. and the width of the said guides
is equal to tho thickness of the said board A upon which the fittings K. K¹ are
held inside by the projections of the guidos b. b' and outside by the cross bars o. o¹
which connect the said guides. The fittings K. K. are capable of moving
longitudinally by sliding upon the upper edge of the board A and consequently of
approaching or roceding one from the other in order to form when apart a
prolongation of the board A. L. L are pins rivetted to the right hand extremities
of the fitting K. and to the left hand extremities of the fitting K', these pins are
designed to act as hinge pins as will be seen hereafter. M. M are backs forming
when closed together as shewn in Fig 1 the back of the divan or sofa, these backs
are held in position by the fittings K. K. and by means of the iron pieces N.
(Fig 11) provided with pins which slide upon the guides b. b' of the said fittings.
The pins fact as hinge pins and at the same time as supports; To this end, they
are provided with a cylindrical perforation of a diameter equal to that of the
pins Land with a slot f¹ for the introduction of the latter in order to form a hinge.
The iron pieces N are fixed one upon the left jamb post of the back M and the
other upon the right jamb post of the back Min such a manner that the slots f
may respectively face the pins L. The backs M, and M' are moreover held in
position by two guides O and O' which as will be seen hereafter serve to pin them
in the various positions which they are capable of occupying. P. P₁ are notches
arranged ono at the extremity of the inside edge of the guide b belonging to the
fitting K and the other to the extremity of the inside edge of the guide b belonging
to the fitting K. Into these notches enter the extremities of the rods Q. moving
ench in a recess formed in the outward surface of the eud boards C and D. R. R,
are arms provided with knobs serving to operate the rods Q. S. S¹ are springs
placed below and acting upon the rods Q in order to maintain the latter in the
notches P. P. The extremities of the rods Qopposite the notches P. P¹ are
provided with a back T upon which is fastened the guide O or 01 when the divan
is converted into a bed or couch. The back M. or M has now been turned round so
as to occupy the position shewn in dotted lines at M. Fig 5. When placed in their
ordinary positions the boards X and Y are united by means of a bolt or in any
other suitable manner and thus form the end of the divan; When the said divan is
lengthened in order to form a bed or a couch the board Y is raised so as to form a
prolongation of the board B and the back M or M of the same side is fixed at its
extremity by means of the guide O or O which it carries. When it is desired
that the bed or couch should have the same length as that of the divan the board Y
remains fixed to the board X and the back is fixed in a suitable position its
guide O or O entering a notch g formed in the board Y in such a manner as to be
hooked upon the hook T carried by the rod Q. Z. Z are two frames, suitably
stuffed, located in the backs M. and M' and serve to form a prolongation of the
seat F when the divan has to be longthened.
With reference to Figs 6 to 10, the frame Z for example is hinged upon a board.
arranged so as to slide between the arms of the back M. When the framo Z is
located in the back M. it is held therein by means of a small bolt i which fixes it
to the upper cross bar of the said back. When it is required to prolong the sent F,
the lengthening of the divan being offected in the manner described, it is sufficient
to release the board h which descending with the frame Z rests upon a lower cross
bar connecting at a suitable height, the two jamb posts of the back M. The
framo Z, the free extremity of which rests upon a support is then raised after
having been first drawn forward so as to be level with the front of the seat F.
This movement of the frame Z is aided by the arrangement of the hinges which
connect the same to the board between the parts and of these hinges (Fig 10)
a sufficient space m is left to permit the said movement to take place. The above
description of the frame Zapplies likewise and in overy respect to the frame Zi
.

page_text: shewn in dotted lines in Fig 6; the supports k. ₁ articulated inside of the end
boards C and D are enclosed within the box E of the divan when they do not
support the frames Z and Z.
I will now describe separately with reference to Figs 12, 13 and 14 each mode
of conversion which can be effected with my improved divan or sofa, and in this
connexion I may remark that whilst the dimensions of the divan or sofa may
obviously be varied without departing from the nature of my invention I consider
the following to be convenient viz: length of divan 1 30, width 0m 65.
The divan comprising all the various parts arranged as shewn in Fig 1 and 2
may be converted as follows:-
(1.) Into a bed of 1 30 in length with two backs; For this purpose, I cause
the back M to slide from left to right until the fitting N and the pins L are
articulated; I then turn the back M and fix its guide O to the hook T of the
rod Qas above explained. I operate in the same manner with the back M¹ and
thus obtain a bed 1 30 in length with two backs.
(2) Into a bed 1m 65 in length with two backs (Fig 12). The bed 1 30 in
length being formed as just above described, I operate upon the rod Q by means of
the knob R in order to release the fitting K and the guide O, I then draw the
back M, until stopped by the pin U and I raise the board Y which then forms a
prolongation, of the board B. All that remains to be done is to cause the frame Z
to descend, then to raise it so that it shall be placed upon its support K, withdrawn
from the box, E, and, finally to fix the back M by means of its guide O to the
extremity of the board Y (Fig 5).
(3). Into a bed of 2m in length with two backs (Fig 12). In this case I operate
upon the left hand side of the bed of 1m, 65 formed as above in the same manner
as was done upon its right hand side in order to lengthen it; the frame Z forming
a prolongation of the seat F.
(4) Into a right handed couch of 1m 30 in length (Fig 13.) the divan being as
shewn in Fig 1, I operate upon the back in the same manner as above described
for the formation of a bed, and I return the back M¹ to the place previously
occupied by the back M.
(5). Into a right handed couch of 1 65 in length (Fig 13); With the preceding
arrangement all that is required is to extend, as above described, the end opposite
the back M.
(6) Into a left handed couch of 1m 30; In this case I operate as in the preceding
one, arranging the back M³ so as to form the head of the couch and putting the
back M in its place (Fig 14).
(7). Into a left handed couch of 1m 65 in length (Fig 14). For this purpose
and in addition to the couch formed as just above described I lengthen the
extremity situated opposite the back M².
(8). Into a cradle or crib by hooking a piece of linen, after the divan or sofa has
been converted into a bed, on each side of the backs M and M'; This piece of linen
is enclosed in the box E of the divan and when not used to form a cradle or crib it
may be employed to cover the seat F and prevent it from being soiled when the
divan is used as a bed.
In a like manner to others the box or frame of my improved divan or sofa is pro-
vided with castors resting on the ground, the legs of the backs are likewise provided
with castors which while supporting them render the movement of the divan easier.
It will be evident divans or sofas according to my invention may be made of
various lengths and kinds of wood or metal and of different forms or styles; and
may as already stated be covered with any suitable material, plain or quilted and
may be provided with fringes, flounces, cushions and the like, whereby the
mechanical arrangement above described may be always well concealed.
The frame forming a prolongation of the seat and of the front board is covered
in exactly the same manner as the seat and front of the divan and the junctions
of the former with the latter are so arranged that they can scarcely be noticed,

page_text: The necessary bedding is onclosed in the box of the divan and is capable of
being lengthened in proportion with the piece of furniture which it accompanies.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1 The improved divan or sofa, convertible into a bed of different lengths with
two backs, into a right or left handed couch also of different lengths and into a
cradle or crib the same comprising the combinations and arrangements of parts
herein before described and shewn on the accompanying sheet of drawings which
enable the movements of the backs and the optional lengthening of the seat and
front and other the several conversions hereinabove more particularly indicated
to bo rapidly and easily effected in the manner set forth...
2. The mode described of connecting the backs M. and ML with the back board A
of the box or frame E to form a divan or sofn such as represented in Figs 1 and 2
of the drawings.
3. The arrangements substantially as described which enable the backs M and M'
to be moved.
(a) In a longitudinal direction guided and held by the fittings K. K' and N. and
the guides O; and (b); In a rotary sense upon tlie pins L serving as pivots for
the fittings N, and the guides O serving to fix the anid backs M and M in their
various positions; the said two motions having for object the conversion of the
divan or sofa into a bed or couch.
4. The arrangements described which enable lengthening of the box or framo E
of the divan to be effected (c) at the back by moving the fittings K and K¹
longitudinally upon the backboard A, and (d) in front, by operating upon the
articulated board Y forming a prolongation of the front board B.
5 The arrangement described for fastening the backs A and M and the
fittings K and K by means of the rod Q.
The arrangement described which enables lengthening of the sent F of the
divan to be effected by means of the frames Z and Z held by the hoards h and h¹
and having a sliding motion in a vertical direction between the arms of the
backs M and M'; the frames Z and Z being normally located in the upper parts
of the said backs.
7. The mode described of Buspending, articulating and operating the scat F so
that the opening of the box or frame E may be readily and rapidly effected by the
action of the articulated rods G. and G' and spring H on the back F as above
explained.
Dated thaw of Coutamba 7001