Fold-open convertible occupant-receiving unit of furniture

Claim 2

A fold-open, convertible, occupant-receiving, unit of furniture characterized by being constructed for easily converting to and from a folded-close unit of furniture with an upstanding side and back portion for use as a sofa, chair or the like and to and from a folded-open, flat unit of furniture of a predetermined geometric shape with no upstanding portions for use as a bed, ottoman or the like; said unit of furniture comprising: a first member of predetermined shape generally defining one half of the folded-open outside configuration of said unit of furniture; a second member having the same general outside configuration and shape as said first member for being generally symmetrical therewith and defining the other half of the folded-open configuration of said unit of furniture when placed in side-byside position therewith and having a cut out therein to define a void therethrough; means for hingedly connecting said first member to said second member for pivotal movement of said second member to and from a folded-close, superimposed position on top of said first member wherein said first member provides an upstanding side and back portion, said cut out in said second member provides an occupant receiving void in said second member and the portion of said first member contained within said cut out of said second member provides an occupant receiving seat portion, and to and from a folded-open position in side-by-side relation with said first member for providing a flat unit of furniture with no upstanding portions; and means for being positioned within said cut out of said second member when said second member is in the folded-open position thereof for filling the cut out to provide a generally continuous flat surface for said unit of furniture in the folded-open position thereof.

Claim 3

A fold-open, convertible, occupant-receiving unit of furniture, as set forth in claim 1, in which said means for being positioned within said cut out of said second member when said second member is in the folded-open position thereof comprises a third member of the shape and configuration of said cut out in said second member for use as an ottoman in said unit of furniture when said first and second members are in the folded-close position.

Claim 4

A fold-open, convertible, occupant-receiving unit of furnitue, as set forth in claim 2, in which said third member comprises a detached, separate member for manual movement to desired positions when used as an ottoman in the folded-close condition of said unit of furniture and when used to fill said cut out in the folded-open condition of said unit of furniture.

Claim 5

A fold-open, convertible, occupant-receiving unit of furniture, as set forth in claim 2, in which said third member comprises an integral member forming a part of and an extension of said first member.

Claim 6

A fold-open, convertible, occupant-receiving unit of furniture, as set forth in claim 1, in which said means for being positioned within said cut out of said second member when said second member is in the folded-open position thereof comprises a pair of separate, detached, symmetrical members which when placed in side-by-side relation are of the shape and configuration of said cut out in said second member for filling said cut out when said unit of furniture is in the folded-open position and for use as individual ottomans which may be manually placed in desired positions when said unit for furniture is in the folded-close position.

Claim 7

A folded-open convertible, occupant-receiving unit of furniture, as set forth in claim 1, in which said means for hingedly connecting said first member to said second member comprises upholstery separately covering at least a portion of said first and second members and being connected for hingedly joining said first and second members.

Claim 8

A fold-open, convertible, occupant-receiving unit of fuRniture, as set forth in claim 6, in which said upholstery covers the side surfaces of said first and second members and forms a open pocket means around the upper peripheral edge of said first and second members when in the folded-open position thereof for receiving and holding bed sheets therein.

Claim 9

A fold-open, convertible, occupant-receiving unit of furniture, as set forth in claim 1, in which said unit of furniture comprises a generally circular shape in plan when in the folded-open position thereof.

Claim 10

A fold-open, convertible, occupant-receiving unit of furniture, as set forth in claim 1, in which said unit of furniture comprises a generally heart shape in plan when in the folded-open position thereof.

Claim 11

A fold-open, convertible, occupant-receiving unit of furniture, as set forth in claim 1, in which said unit of furniture comprises a generally rectangular shape in plan when in the folded-open position thereof.

Claim 12

A fold-open, convertible, occupant-receiving unit of furniture, characterized by being constructed for easily converting to and from a folded-close unit of furniture with an upstanding side and back portion for use as a sofa, chair or the like and to and from a folded-open, flat unit of furniture of a predetermined geometric shape with no upstanding portions for use as a bed, ottoman or the like; said unit of furniture comprising: a first block of foam material of predetermined shape generally defining one half of the folded-open outside configuration of said unit of furniture; a second block of foam material having the same general outside configuration and shape as said first foam block for being generally symmetrical therewith and defining the other half of the folded-open configuration of said unit of furniture when placed in side-by-side position therewith and having a cut out therein in which a portion of the foam block is removed to define a void therethrough; upholstery separately covering at least a portion of said first and second foam blocks and being connected for hingedly joining said first foam block to said second foam block for pivotal movement of said second foam block to and from a folded-close, superimposed position on top of said first foam block wherein said first foam block provides an upstanding side and back portion, said cut out in said second foam block provides an occupant receiving void in said second foam block and the portion of said foam block contained within said cut out of said second foam block provides an occupant-receiving seat portion, and to and from a folded-open position in side-by-side relation with said first foam block for providing a flat unit of furniture with no upstanding portion; and a third foam block comprising the cut out portion of said second foam block and being of the shape and configuration of said cut out in said second foam block for use as an ottoman in said unit of furniture when said first and second members are in the folded-close position and for being positioned within said cut out of said second foam block when said second foam block is in the folded-open position thereof for filling the void formed thereby to provide a generally continuous flat surface for said unit of furniture in the folded-open position thereof.

Claim 13

A fold-open, convertible, occupant-receiving unit of furniture, characterized by being constructed for easily converting to and from a folded-close unit of furniture with an upstanding side and back portion for use as a sofa, chair or the like and to and from a folded-open, flat unit of furniture of a predetermined geometric shape with no upstanding portions for use as a bed, ottoman or the like; said unit of furniture comprising: a first block of foam material of predetermined shape generally defining one half of the folded-open outside configuration of said unit of furniture; a second block of foam material having the same general outside configuration and shape as said first foam block for being generally symmetrical therewith and defining the other half of the folded-open configuration of said unit of furniture when placed in side-by-side position therewith and having a cut out therein in which a portion of the foam block is removed to define a void therethrough; upholstery separately covering at least a portion of said first and second foam blocks and being connected for hingedly joining said first foam block to said second foam block for pivotal movement of said second foam block to and from a folded-close, superimposed position on top of said first foam block wherein said first foam block provides an upstanding side and back portion, said cut out in said second foam block provides an occupant receiving void in said second foam block and the portion of said foam block contained within said cut out of said second foam block provides an occupant-receiving seat portion, and to and from a folded-open position in side-by-side relation with said first foam block for providing a flat unit of furniture with no upstanding portion; and a third foam block comprising the cut out portion of said second foam block and being of the shape and configuration of said cut out in said second foam block for use as an ottoman in said unit of furniture when said first and second members are in the folded-close position and for being positioned within said cut out of said second foam block when said second foam block is in the folded-open position thereof for filling the void formed thereby to provide a generally continuous flat surface for said unit of furniture in the folded-open position thereof.

Claim 14

A fold-open, convertible, occupant-receiving unit of furniture, as set forth in claim 11, in which said third foam block comprises a detached, separate member for manual movement to desired positions when used as an ottoman in the folded-close condition of said unit of furniture and when used to fill said cut out in the folded-open condition of said unit of furniture.

Claim 15

A fold-open, convertible, occupant-receiving unit of furniture, as set forth in claim 11, in which said third foam block comprises an integral part of and an extension of said first foam block.

Claim 16

A fold-open, convertible, occupant-receiving unit of furniture, as set forth in claim 11, in which said third foam block is divided and comprises a pair of separate, detached, symmetrical members which when placed in side-by-side relation are of the shape and configuration of said cut out in said second foam block for filling said cut out when said unit of furniture is in the folded-open position and for use as individual detached ottomans which may be manually placed in desired positions when the unit of furniture is in the folded-close position.

Claim 17

A fold-open, convertible, occupant-receiving unit of furniture, as set forth in claim 11, in which said upholstery covers the side surfaces of said first and second foam blocks and forms an open pocket means around the upper peripheral edge of said first and second foam blocks when in the folded-open position thereof for receiving and holding bed sheets therein.

Claim 18

A fold-open, convertible, occupant-receiving unit of furniture, as set forth in claim 11, in which said unit of furniture comprises a generally circular shape in plan when in the folded-open position thereof.

Claim 19

A fold-open, convertible, occupant-receiving unit of furniture, as set forth in claim 11, in which said unit of furniture comprises a generally heart shape in plan when in the folded-open position thereof.

Claim 20

A fold-open, convertible, occupant-receiving unit of furniture, as set forth in claim 11, in which said unit of furniture comprises a generally rectangular shape in plan when in the folded-open positioned thereof.