US3916461A - Article of furniture with a multi-section support surface - Google Patents

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Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
  • A47C20/00—Head-, foot- or like rests for beds, sofas or the like
  • A47C20/04—Head-, foot- or like rests for beds, sofas or the like with adjustable inclination
  • A47C20/047—Head-, foot- or like rests for beds, sofas or the like with adjustable inclination by friction locking means
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
  • A47C1/00—Chairs adapted for special purposes
  • A47C1/02—Reclining or easy chairs
  • A47C1/022—Reclining or easy chairs having independently-adjustable supporting parts
  • A47C1/024—Reclining or easy chairs having independently-adjustable supporting parts the parts, being the back-rest, or the back-rest and seat unit, having adjustable and lockable inclination
  • A47C1/027—Reclining or easy chairs having independently-adjustable supporting parts the parts, being the back-rest, or the back-rest and seat unit, having adjustable and lockable inclination by means of clamps or friction locking members
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
  • A47C17/00—Sofas; Couches; Beds
  • A47C17/04—Seating furniture, e.g. sofas, couches, settees, or the like, with movable parts changeable to beds; Chair beds
  • A47C17/16—Seating furniture changeable to beds by tilting or pivoting the back-rest
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
  • A47C17/00—Sofas; Couches; Beds
  • A47C17/04—Seating furniture, e.g. sofas, couches, settees, or the like, with movable parts changeable to beds; Chair beds
  • A47C17/16—Seating furniture changeable to beds by tilting or pivoting the back-rest
  • A47C17/163—Seating furniture changeable to beds by tilting or pivoting the back-rest and a foot-rest
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
  • A47C20/00—Head-, foot- or like rests for beds, sofas or the like
  • A47C20/04—Head-, foot- or like rests for beds, sofas or the like with adjustable inclination
  • A47C20/048—Head-, foot- or like rests for beds, sofas or the like with adjustable inclination by fluid means
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
  • A47C20/00—Head-, foot- or like rests for beds, sofas or the like
  • A47C20/08—Head-, foot- or like rests for beds, sofas or the like with means for adjusting two or more rests simultaneously
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
  • A47C7/00—Parts, details, or accessories of chairs or stools
  • A47C7/36—Supports for the head or the back
  • A47C7/40—Supports for the head or the back for the back
  • A47C7/44—Supports for the head or the back for the back with elastically-mounted back-rest or backrest-seat unit in the base frame
  • A47C7/446—Supports for the head or the back for the back with elastically-mounted back-rest or backrest-seat unit in the base frame with fluid springs

Definitions

• ABSTRACT An article of furniture, preferably in the form of a couch or a bed with a multi-section support surface for an user reclining on the article, wherein at least one of the end sections is pivoted relative to a base frame, having at least one spring support system (16,16',l6,16") provided which connects one end section (12,13) of the support surface either directly or by means of a beam (15) on the section with the base frame (10,10,18) or with the floor or with the beam of another section (12,17,13), or directly with another section (12,17,13) so that lifting of at least the end section is effected and in that at least one stop (20,34 36) is provided for each movable end section (12,13) for locking the latter in its particular relative position to the base frame (10,10').
• each adjustable section is provided with a hinge-mounted rail penetrating a catch of the base frame. When the tip of a section is lifted, the rail will slip over the teeth of the catch in order to penetrate the latter at the terminal position when the motion is completed and in order to support the section again moving downward.
• One purpose of the invention is addressed to the task of creating a new couch or bed which allows adjustment on the part of a person situated prone on the recliner but without the expense of a motor drive.
• the object of the present invention is an article of furniture of the kind initially mentioned which is characterized by being provided with at least one spring support system directly connecting an end section of the reclining surface to the base frame, or else via a beam mounted on the section, the beam also connected to the floor, or the section being connected to the beam of another section, or directly with the other section, so that lifting of at least one end section is effected, and that at least one stop for each movable end section is provided for locking the end sections in a particular relative position with respect to the base frame.
• At least one of the end sections may be mounted on a horizontal axle supported by the base frame, and the section may be selectively pivoted under load in the clockwise or counter-clockwise sense in any position it occupies with respect to the base frame, to the extent limiter means do not restrict such motions.
• the middle section may be mounted on a horizontal axle of the base frame and be pivoted clockwise or counterclockwise under load from any relative position with respect to the base frame and to the extent allowed by the stops, the two end sections being linked to the middle one by means of articulated couplings.
• the spring support system may include systems with nonlinear spring characteristics, and may comprise at least one pneumatic or gas spring for the support system and the stop.
• a manually activated device may be provided for,
• This device also may be mounted on the base frame or directly on a section or to a beam of a section or a beam of the base frame.
• the device may be constructed as a quick-acting mechanism. It may be constructed to act in a stepwise manner so that upon being tripped, it will cause the stops to be released consecutively and singly, or in groups, or be locked in the same manner.
• this blocking device may be designed as a slip clutch for at least one of the stops.
• a spring support system may be provided at the middle section or at a beam of the same and at the base frame or at the floor of the same, which will support these.
• a limit stop counteracting the spring load of the end section may be provided for the latter, which will act as a function of the relative position of the middle section with respect to thebase frame.
• This limit stop is designed as a support for the end section inclining further beyond the position defined by the activation of the limit stop and hence lifting the middle section.
• a spring support system may be designed as a support or a stop may be so dimensioned that the latter will simultaneously act as a limiter and a support.
• a Seetions beam may be mounted relative to the line of action of the spring support system in such an angular position that an increasing effective lever arm will obtain for a predetermined range of inclination angle if the section is displaced in such direction as to increase the force thereon by the spring system.
• the abovementioned limiter may be adjusted relative to the horizontally supported axle of the base frame.
• the advantage of the new article of furniture is that its sections can be set continuously relative one to another without a motor and without manual lifting.
• FIG. 1 the article of furniture of the present invention with movable end or foot and head sections;
• FIG. la a clamping device for the stops of FIG. 1;
• FIG. lb an end view of FIG. 1;
• FIG. 2 a couch or bed of the present invention with three movable sections
• FIG. 2a an alternative embodiment of FIG. 2;
• FIG. 3b a control apparatus for the pneumatic springs of FIGS. 3 and 3a;
• FIG. 4 a couch or bed of the present invention with a reclining surface in two sections;
• FIG. 4a a clamping device for the stops of FIG. 4 acting discretely
• FIG. 5 a couch or bed of the present invention having an additional abutting surface
• FIG. 5a another form of the abutting mechanism of FIG. 5;
• FIG. 5b is a front view showing the support adjustable with respect to its position relative to the base frame.
• FIG. 6, a couch or bed of the present invention with a clamping device at the beam of the middle section;
• FIG. 7 still another embodiment of the couch or bed of the present invention.
• Base frame of the cou ch or bed is shown in FIG. 1 as being formed of frame resting on feet.
• a framelike top section 12 and a frame-like" bottom section 13 are rotatably supported aboutf a xle's 14.
• a u-shaped beam 1 5 is rigidly connected to each top and bottom section so that the legs of the U are mounted on the frame.
• a support spring is tensioned between the crosspart ofthe U of the top section 12 to the base frame, while the support spring for the bottom section 13 acts directly on the bottom section and also on the base frame.
• the spring associated with the bottom section is a conventional compression spring 16", while the spring system actingon the beam of the top section is atelescopic spring '16 acting stepwise.
• the springs cause lifting of the .tips of bottom section 13 and top section 12. As shown,'these springs act on the base frame at points so selected that whhen sections 12 and 13 incline, there will be an increasing effective lever arm each time with respect to the line of spring pull or push action, the arm then being normal to these lines and hence achieving its maximum value when the top or bottom section'is in the horizontal position.
• a middle section 17 between the previously mentioned ones is rigidly fastened to the base frame.
• the base frame is provided with a bracket 18 going downward in the region of the" middle section, the bracket holding clamping pin19 ofa clamping device in a borehole.
• Side bars 20 are mounted as stops in articulating manner in beams 15, encompassing clamping pin 19 by their slots 20'.
• the clamping device may be actuated by means of two levers 22 and two cable lines 23.
• the stops may be advantageously so dimensioned in the couchs or beds described herewith and below that they will simultaneously act as limiters to the motion of the sections they are associated with.
• FIG. 1a shows an embodiment of the clamping device.
• Bracket 18 of the base frame holds a clamping pin 19 supporting at one of its ends a spacer 19' and at its other end two cam plates 21 acting in the direction of its longitudinal axis, one of the cams being kept in its angular position with respect to the base frame while the other may pivot about the clamping pin by means of a handle 31 and will tensionally load the pin as a function of the relative position of the cam plates.
• Side bars 20 encompass clamping pin 19 by means of their lengthwise slots. They are kept apart by spacers 19'. It will be easily noticed that for changing lengthwise loading of the clamping pin, the side bars will be pressed one against the other at varying pressures and will thus be fixed with respect to the clamping pin.
• This clamping device and the one described above represent quick acting clamping devices whereby the desired locking or release of the stops is achieved in very short time by the mere motion of a lever.
• the pertinent stop is provided with its own clamping device, which will comprise a helical spring of appropriate dimension between the rear cam plate and the last spacer. When clamping occurs by means of the cam plate, the stop will be held only to the extent of theforce exerted by the helical spring. An example to that effect is shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1.
• cam plates In lieu of the cam plates, one may make use in the embodiments shown of another, similarly acting clamping device.
• stops are shown as side bars and are designated as such, they may also consist of loops or eyelets of a rigid material. Also, if a specially high pressure loading is required, the stops in the area of the clamping device may be made rough or be provided with teeth. In the latter case, the cam plates are provided with-the corresponding axial mating teeth.
• FIG. 2 The embodiment shown in FIG. 2 comprises a tubular base frame 10' in which the middle of. three reclining sections 12, 17, 13 is pivotably supported by a beam 10" and a horizontal axle 11.
• the other two sections are mounted to the center section by means of hinges 14.
• center section 17 comprises a downward pointing bracket 17, both end sections also being provided with beams 15.
• Bracket 17' is connected by a conventional compression spring 16" to the beam at the foot section 13. This arrangement holds the advantage of having the foot section 13 remaining under constant spring load when the center section 17 rotates.
• Beam 15 of top section 12 is provided with a telescope spring 16' which will act step-wise at a given point of base frame 10' and which is so dimensioned that it cannot be compressed further beyond a predetermined relative position of part and sections 10', 17 and 12 but will thereupon act as a rigid support for section 12.
• FIG. 3 shows a couch or bed in which center section 17 is rigidly connected with base frame 10. Both sections 12 and 13 are supported on axles 14 on the base frame. Beams 15 of these sections are interconnected by a compression spring 16" acting as a spring support system. Stops 20 associated with each section may be locked into their particular positions by means of a clamping device 19, 21 supported in bracket 18.
• pneumatic or gas springs may advantageously be used, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 3a.
• beams 15 each are connected by a pneumatic spring 48 and 49 respectively with bracket 18 of the base frame.
• Bracket 18 holds a control device allowing individual or common locking or release of the two springs.
• An embodiment of such a control is shown in FIG. 3b and described below.
• the pneumatic springs in this instance function simultaneously as spring support systems and stops. This is made possible on account of their special design.
• the common axle for the pneumatic or gas springs mounted on the base frame at bracket 18 is embodied as a'pipe 50 provided with recesses 51.
• Each of pneumatic or gas springs 48 and 49 is screwed by its end into a thread 52 mounted at a right angle to the bearing bushings 53 of which the inner diameter is fitted to the OD of pipe 50.
• a control 54 is movably located inside pipe 50, both ends of the control being bevelled. Its length is such that control pins 48 and 49 can simultaneously rest on its untapered sleeve surface. By shifting the control in either direction (shown by double arrow), one may selectively lock the two pneumatic springs individually or simultaneously and thereby lock or release either or both sections.
• FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment in which both sections 12 and 13, section 13 being made especially long, are supported on a common axle 14 at base frame 10.
• both sections are provided with beams 15 each subject to stepped telescope spring 16' action.
• the support spring associated with section 12 is mounted on the base frame, whereas that associated with section 13 acts on the foundation.
• Stops 20 associated with the beams operate together with a clamping device actuated by handle 31 and mounted on bracket 18 of the base frame. Again the loading points of the spring support systems are so .selected with respect to beams 15 and their angular positions relating to sections 12 and 13 so that the maximum operational lever arm is obtained for the horizontal position of the spring support systems.
• This clamping device comprises a center piece 39 which is rigidly connected with the base frame (not shown) of the couch or bed. Center piece 39 is provided with a transverse bore at each of its ends, and these bores allow passage to clamping bolts 27' and 27".
• the first bolt is provided at one of its ends with an inwardly rounded head and at its other end with a thread holding an inwardly rounded nut.
• the other :clamping bolt 27" is also provided with a head at one of its ends and holds eccentric cam bilaterally by means of an axle 29, the cams being rotatable in common by means of a handle 31.
• the two clamping bolts are loosely connected on each side of center piece 39 by a steel spring bar 37. Stops 34 and 36 designed as rods and shown here in cross section are inserted between the center piece and the bar. Two stops are associated with one section of the reclining surface and the other two opposite ones with the other section of the reclining surface. Safety pins 39' ensure that stops 34 will be kept opposite the upper part of the center piece.
• the spacing of the bars in the region of clamping bolts 27 is so adjusted that it will be slightly less than the width of the center piece plus the diameter of the two stops 34.
• FIG. 5 again shows an embodiment in which center section 17 is rotatably supported by means of a horizontal axle 11 on base frame 10. This is obtained by means of a downward pointing bracket 17'. Foot section 13 and head section 12 are connected to center section 17 by means of articulations 14'.
• simple telescope springs 16" on one hand and step telescope spring 16 on the other are provided as spring support systems.
• the clamping device for the stops also is mounted on a bracket 18 of the base frame, which bracket also holds the spring 16'.
• the spring 16' in this instance, similar to the situation illustrated in FIG. 2, may be of such dimensions that it will serve as support for rear, inclining section 12 beyond a certain relative position of part and sections l2, l7, 10.
• the rigid support may consist of additional constructional elements, for example as shown in FIG. 5a. It will be hoticed that beam 15 of section 12 holds a roller 33 at its free end, the roller being capable of operating in concert with a stop track 35 mounted on base frame 10. Reversal of this apparatus is shown in dashed lines in FIG. 5, where rollers 32 are rotatably supported on both sides of the base frame 10 and are capable of operating together with the back side of section 12.
• a spring support system consisting of telescope springs, holds by means of its upper eyelet the cross part of beam 15 of section 12, while its lower eyelet is mounted to bracket 18 of the base frame 10 by means of an axle 14''.
• One side bar 37 each is mounted on either side of the telescope spring on the axle 14, the
• side bars being connected by a ring 38 surrounding the telescope, spring.
• a further side bar 37 is associated with each, side bar 37,- side bars 37 being provided at their upper ends with a V-shaped or semi-circular recess for seating beam 15.
• Side bars 37' are provided with a plurality of bores 40, two of which correspond to a guide pin 41 mounted in side bar 37 and one bore accepts a butterfly screw 42 inserted into side bar 37.
• side bars 37' may be arranged in varying positions with side bars 37, so that the length of the rigid support may be varied. In this manner, it is easy to vary the operational point of pivoting motion of section 12 and to adapt it to the user of the couch or bed.
• the bottom or foot section also may be adjusted in rising or falling manner by appropriate pressure from the legs of the user against the force exerted by the associated spring system, and the horizontal position may be obtained similarly.
• each movable section comprises a stop 20 that can be locked in its particular relative position by means of a common clamping device mounted on beam 10" .of base frame 10.
• the clamping device is actuated by means of a handle 31.
• the spring system associated with the bottom section may. actuate latter directly or also at bracket 17 of-center section 17 (FIG. 2a).
• top section 12 is designed as a discretely acting telescope spring.
• Other embodiments are conveivable and feasible.
• a special characteristic of this new couch or bed with movable center section and those described below consists in the capability of independently changing the relative angular positions to the foundation of two adjacent'sections interconnected by means of articulations. It is possible, therefore,'to change arbitrarily the relative angular position of one section while simultaneously maintaining the angular setting of the other section relative to the foundation or to the first section, or vice versa', to maintain the angular position of one section while changing that of the other, or to move both sections each in the clockwise or counterclockwise sense, unless the limiters should prevent this. Because of the balanced nature of the system, each position once reached may then be maintained without undue application or force, if the stops are out of operation.
• the new couch or bed allows a varied range of I 1.
• An article of furniture comprisi'ng' 'a"base frame and a plurality of support members providing a multisection support surface for a user reclinin'gon the article, said support members including a middle section pivotably mounted at the middle portion thereof on bearings relative to the base frame and first and second end sections mounted pivotably at a first end and a second end of said middle section on bearings at inner ends of said end sections for movement of said end sections through different open angles relative to'said base frame and said middle section and at least one section connected by at least one spring support system said base frame and said end sections having stop means for locking said end sections in desired positions relative to said base framewithout being braced by another support member.
• the beam connected by at least one spring support system (16') to said middle section (13, 17) directly.
• stop means containing a common stop device has a handle for loosening and securing said stops of at least two sections simultaneously.
• stop means have a common stop device with a stepwise acting mechanism, in one end position of which said stop means have means for simultaneous release.
• one end section (12) is connected to the base frame (10) by a first spring system and wherein said middle section (17) has a second spring system with one end connected to said middle section and a second end connected to said base frame.
• stop means has a common stop device with a stepwise acting mechanism wherein said stops (34, 36, 48, 49) are secured individually one after the other.
• stop means has a stop device with a slip clutch for at least one of the stops.
• An article of furniture comprising a base frame and a plurality of support members providing a multisection support surface for a user reclining on the article, said support members including a middle section pivotably mounted at the middle portion thereof on bearings relative to the base frame and first and second end sections mounted pivotably at a first end and a second end of said middle section on bearings at inner ends of said end sections for movement of said end sections through different open angles relative to said base frame and said middle section and at least one section connected by at least one sprin'g support system to said base frame and said end sections having stop means for locking said end sections in desired positions relative to said base frame without being braced by another support member, and at least one limiter device (32, 33, 35, 16', 20, 37', 37”) associated with at least one end section (12), said limiter device becoming effective in dependence on the position of said movable middle section (17) relative to said base frame and being constructed as a bearing to support the end section, which is pivotably displaceable beyond the position at which the limiter device becomes effective to lift the

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Nursing (AREA)
• Dentistry (AREA)
• Special Chairs (AREA)
• Chairs For Special Purposes, Such As Reclining Chairs (AREA)
• Mutual Connection Of Rods And Tubes (AREA)
• Eyeglasses (AREA)

Abstract

Description

Claims (26)

Applications Claiming Priority (6)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=42635042

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (10)

Cited By (48)

Families Citing this family (9)

Citations (5)

• 1974
  • 1974-02-11 DE DE19742406374 patent/DE2406374A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1974-02-11 NL NL7401831A patent/NL7401831A/xx not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1974-02-11 US US441175A patent/US3916461A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1974-02-12 AT AT108674A patent/AT351702B/en not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1974-02-13 CH CH196974A patent/CH568047A5/xx not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1974-02-13 FR FR7404920A patent/FR2216955B1/fr not_active Expired
  • 1974-02-13 GB GB646974A patent/GB1451417A/en not_active Expired
  • 1974-02-13 IT IT67411/74A patent/IT1004944B/en active
  • 1974-02-14 BE BE140927A patent/BE811050A/en unknown
  • 1974-02-14 CA CA192,582A patent/CA999403A/en not_active Expired

Patent Citations (5)

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