Mechanism for converting a couch into an upper and lower bed

Claim 2

In a convertible sofa having a hollow base, a fixed back and a vertically reciprocatable seat back movable between a couch forming position and elevated horizontal bed forming position and in which in the couch forming position the bottom portion of the seat back is stored in the base, means for raising the seat back to the horizontal bed forming position and lowering it to the couch forming position comprising a power operated jack having a vertically reciprocatable jacking member with a travel sufficient to lift the portion of the seat back stored in the base clear of the top of the base, an upper stabilizing member slidably securing the jack to the fixed back midway between the lateral ends of the seat back to thereby retain the jacking member in a vertical position during its up and down travel, and lifting members connected to the vertically reciprocatable jacking member and hingedly connected to the seat back adjacent the top edge thereof.

Claim 3

In a convertible sofa according to claim 1 wherein the lifting member comprises a bracket consisting of a pair of diagonal arms, one arm having one end secured to the base of the jacking member and diverging outwardly therefrom with the other arm having one end secured to the base of the jacking member diametrically opposite the said end of the first mentioned arm and the opposite ends of each arm being hingedly connected to the seat back between the jack and the respective lateral ends of the seat back.

Claim 4

In a convertible sofa according to claim 2 wherein the stabilizing members comprise a pair of bearing members which house said jack restraining it against wabble and a guideway for each arm permitting free travel of the arms in a vertical plane and restraining movement in a horizontal plane.

Claim 5

In a convertible sofa having a hollow base, a fixed back, a seat supported on the base, a substantially wide slot extending the full length of the couch between the rear edge of the seat and the fixed back, and a vertically reciprocatable seat back movable between a couch forming position and an elevated horizontal bed forming position and in which in the couch forming position the bottom portion of the seat extends through said slot and is stored in the base, vertically reciprocatable means for raising the seat back to the horizontal bed forming position and lowering it to thE couch forming position comprising a vertically reciprocatable power operated jack centrally mounted on the fixed back, said jack having a vertically reciprocatable member and a stationary ram member in which the reciprocatable member has a travel sufficient to lift the portion of the seat back stored within the base clear of the top of the base, a stabilizing member securing the reciprocatable member to the fixed back midway between the lateral ends of the seat back for up and down movement, and lifting arms connected to the reciprocatable member and hingedly connected to the seat back adjacent the top edge thereof, said lifting member comprises a bracket consisting of a pair of diagonal arms, one arm having one end secured to the base of the reciprocatable member and diverging outwardly therefrom with the other arm having one end secured to the base of the reciprocatable member diametrically opposite the said end of the first mentioned arm and the opposite ends of each arm being hingedly connected to the seat back between the jack and the respective lateral ends of the seat back.

Claim 6

In a convertible sofa having a hollow base, a fixed back, a seat supported on the base, a substantially wide slot extending the full length of the couch between the rear edge of the seat and the fixed back, and a vertically reciprocatable seat back movable between a couch forming position and an elevated horizontal bed forming position and in which in the couch forming position the bottom portion of the seat extends through said slot and is stored in the base, vertically reciprocatable means for raising the seat back to the horizontal bed forming position and lowering it to thE couch forming position comprising a vertically reciprocatable power operated jack centrally mounted on the fixed back, said jack having a vertically reciprocatable member and a stationary ram member in which the reciprocatable member has a travel sufficient to lift the portion of the seat back stored within the base clear of the top of the base, a stabilizing member securing the reciprocatable member to the fixed back midway between the lateral ends of the seat back for up and down movement, and lifting arms connected to the reciprocatable member and hingedly connected to the seat back adjacent the top edge thereof, said lifting member comprises a bracket consisting of a pair of diagonal arms, one arm having one end secured to the base of the reciprocatable member and diverging outwardly therefrom with the other arm having one end secured to the base of the reciprocatable member diametrically opposite the said end of the first mentioned arm and the opposite ends of each arm being hingedly connected to the seat back between the jack and the respective lateral ends of the seat back.

Claim 7

In a convertible sofa according to claim 4 wherein the stabilizing member comprises a horizontal cross bar secured to each arm and extending outwardly which house said jack restraining it against wobble and a guideway therefrom, and clamping members carried by the fixed back and positioned to engage said cross bar when the reciprocatable member reaches the predetermined limit of its upward movement.