Patent US3975783A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3975783A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Sofa bed
Assignee: United States Steel Corp
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Filing: 1975-06-10
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Granted: 1976-08-24
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Expires: 1995-06-10
Abstract
Abstract A furniture assembly such as a sofa bed which moves between a sitting configuration and a bed configuration including a metal support frame having end units with interconnecting beam members removably connected to the end units by bolts. A metal plate is secured to each end unit and includes a pair of slots inclined or slanted upwardly and forwardly from the rearward ends with U-shaped metal track members having flanges secured to the metal plates for defining laterally extending track surfaces. Inner and outer frames are pivotally connected together by an intermediate frame and are movable between a folded position and an unfolded position to define the bed configuration. The inner frame has bifurcated brackets secured thereto and shafts are connected to the bifurcated brackets and extend through the slots in the adjacent plates to support rollers which roll along the track members. The shafts have threaded nuts thereon and the shafts are the sole means for supporting the bed frames on the support frame. A leg member is pivotally connected to the intermediate frame and includes gear teeth disposed about the pivotal connection to the intermediate frame to coact with gear teeth on the inner frame whereby the leg member is moved to a leg supporting position upon relative pivotal movement between the intermediate frame and the inner frame. A handle-leg unit is pivotally connected to the outer frame and includes first and second links pivotally connected together whereby the links may be moved from a collapsed stored position to an extended position for supporting the outer frame when in the bed configuration. A pin and an L-shaped slot interconnect the links for locking the links against relative pivotal movement. A catch or pin is disposed on the inner frame for coaction with the slot in one of the links whereby that link positions the inner and outer frames relative to one another when in the folded position and to selectively prevent the outer frame from being pivoted toward the unfolded position from the folded position.
Inventors
- 👤 William L. Pringle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 21:13
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47C; A47C17/00; A47C17/04; A47C17/13
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
A furniture assembly for movement between a sitting configuration and a bed configuration comprising; support frame means, bed frame means movable between a folded position and an unfolded position, said bed frame means being in said folded position when in said sitting configuration and in said unfolded position when in said bed configuration, track means interconnecting said support frame means and said bed frame means for guiding movement of said bed frame means relative to said support frame means during movement of said bed frame means between said sitting configuration and an intermediate position in which said bed frame means may be moved between said folded and unfolded positions, said track means including a first plate secured to said support frame means, said plate having a first elongated slot therein, a first track member secured to said plate and including at least one laterally extending surface adjacent said slot, a first shaft connected to said bed frame means and extending through said elongated slot, a track roller rotatably supported on said shaft in rolling engagement with said track member, said track member and said slot including retaining means for supporting and selectively preventing movement of said bed frame means in said bed configuration.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
203 words
A furniture assembly for movement between a sitting configuration and a bed configuration comprising; support frame means, bed frame means movable between a folded position and an unfolded position, said bed frame means being in said folded position when in said sitting configuration and in said unfolded position when in said bed configuration, track means interconnecting said support frame means and said bed frame means for guiding movement of said bed frame means relative to said support frame means during movement of said bed frame means between said sitting configuration and an intermediate position in which said bed frame means may be moved between said folded and unfolded positions, said track means including a first plate secured to said support frame means, said plate having a first elongated slot therein, a first track member secured to said plate and including at least one laterally extending surface adjacent said slot, a first shaft connected to said bed frame means and extending through said elongated slot, a track roller rotatably supported on said shaft in rolling engagement with said track member, said track member and said slot including retaining means for supporting and selectively preventing movement of said bed frame means in said bed configuration.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said roller has a diameter greater than the width of said slot, said slot having an enlargement of enlarged width for permitting insertion of said roller through said slot while supported on said shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
151 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said support frame means includes a pair of said end units spaced from one another and beam units interconnecting said end units, said first plate being secured to one of said end units, said first plate including a second elongated slot therein, a second track member secured to said first plate and including at least one laterally extending surface adjacent said second slot, a second plate secured to the other of said end units, said second plate being the mirror image of said first plate to include first and second elongated slots and first and second track members secured thereto to present laterally extending surfaces adjacent said first and second slots, additional track rollers in rolling engagement with each of said additional track members, a shaft rotatably supporting each of said additional track rollers and removably connected to said bed frame means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said first and second plates are sheet metal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said track members are formed sheet metal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said track members are U-shaped in cross section to present a pair of said laterally extending surfaces and include flanges engaging and secured to said plates.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said end units and said beam units consist of metal structural elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 3 including a plurality of brackets secured to said bed frame means, each of said shafts being connected to said bed frame means by one of said brackets, each of said shafts being removably connected to one of said brackets.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said shafts are the sole interconnection between said bed frame means and said support frame means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
72 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein each of said brackets is bifurcated to receive one of said shafts, fastening means on each of said shafts for removably connecting each shaft to one of said brackets whereby said bed frame means may be completely connected to and completely disconnected from said support frame means by operating said fastening means and respectively inserting and removing said shafts from said bifurcated brackets.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
86 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said bed frame means includes an inner mattress frame, an outer mattress frame and an intermediate frame pivotally interconnecting said inner and outer mattress frames, said outer frame and said intermediate frame being pivotal relative to said inner frame between said folded position where said outer frame is disposed in spaced relationship above said inner frame and said unfolded position where said inner, outer and intermediate frames are co-planar, said brackets being secured to said inner frame.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
65 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said slots in said plates slant upwardly and forwardly from the rearward extremities thereof and including handle means connected to said intermediate frame for manually moving said frames upwardly and forwardly as said track rollers move along said track members to move said frames to said intermediate position for movement between said folded and unfolded positions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said handle means comprises a bar extending transversely between the opposite ends of said intermediate frame.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
83 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 13 including at least one leg member pivotally connected to said intermediate frame for movement between a collapsed position when said frames are in said folded position and an extended position when said frames are in said unfolded position, and gear means operatively interconnecting said leg member and said inner frame for moving said leg member between said collapsed and extended positions in response to relative pivotal movement between said inner frame and said intermediate frame.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said gear means includes gear teeth in said leg member and disposed circumferentially about the axis of rotation of said leg member relative to said intermediate frame, and gear teeth in said inner frame in meshing engagement with said gear teeth in said leg member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
56 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 11 including foldable handle-leg means pivotally connected to said outer frame for moving said outer frame and said intermediate frame from said folded position toward said unfolded position and for moving to a support position to act as a leg to support said outer frame in said unfolded position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 16 including stop means between said inner frame and said intermediate frame and between said intermediate frame and said outer frame for limiting relative movement between said frames in the unfolding direction at said unfolded position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
85 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said handle-leg means includes a first link pivotally connected at a first end thereof to said outer frame and extending to a second end, a second link pivotally connected at an inner end thereof to said second end of said first link and extending to a distal end, said first and second links being movable between a collapsed stored position and said support position, and lock means for selectively preventing relative pivotal movement between said links.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 18 wherein said handle-leg means includes one of each of said first and second links disposed adjacent each end of said outer frame, and a handle bar interconnecting said distal ends of said second links.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 19 including abutment means for limiting pivotal movement of said first links relative to said outer frame in said support position.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
50 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 20 including catch means on said inner frame for coacting with at least a portion of said lock means when said links are in said collapsed stored position for preventing unfolding movement of said outer frame relative to said intermediate and inner frames.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
70 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 21 wherein said pivotal connection between each of said first links and said second links allows movement of each of said second links longitudinally of said first links, said lock means includes an L-shaped slot extending into each of said first links and a pin extending from each of said second links for coating with said L-shaped slot in the associated first link.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
153 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bed frame includes an inner mattress frame, an outer mattress frame and an intermediate frame pivotally interconnecting said inner and outer mattress frames, said outer frame and said intermediate frame being pivotal relative to said inner frame between said folded position where said outer frame is disposed in spaced relationship above said inner frame and said unfolded position where said inner, outer and intermediate frames are co-planar, at least one leg member pivotally connected to said intermediate frame for movement between a collapsed position when said frames are in said folded position and an extended position when said frames are in said unfolded position, and means projecting from said inner frame for interfering engagement with said leg member for moving said leg member between said collapsed and extended positions in response to relative pivotal movement between said inner frame and said intermediate frame.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
162 words
A furniture assembly for movement between a sitting configuration and a bed configuration comprising; support frame means, bed frame means movable between a folded position and an unfolded position, said bed frame means being in said folded position when in said sitting configuration and in said unfolded position when in said bed configuration, means interconnecting said bed frame means and said support frame means for allowing movement of said bed frame means relative to said support frame means, said bed frame means including at least first and second mattress frames pivotally connected together for movement between said folded and unfolded positions, at least one leg member pivotally connected to said first frame member for movement between a collapsed position and an extended position, and means projecting from said inner frame and said leg member for interfering engagement for moving said leg member between said collapsed and extended positions in response to relative pivotal movement between said inner frame and said intermediate frame.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
162 words
A furniture assembly for movement between a sitting configuration and a bed configuration comprising; support frame means, bed frame means movable between a folded position and an unfolded position, said bed frame means being in said folded position when in said sitting configuration and in said unfolded position when in said bed configuration, means interconnecting said bed frame means and said support frame means for allowing movement of said bed frame means relative to said support frame means, said bed frame means including at least first and second mattress frames pivotally connected together for movement between said folded and unfolded positions, at least one leg member pivotally connected to said first frame member for movement between a collapsed position and an extended position, and means projecting from said inner frame and said leg member for interfering engagement for moving said leg member between said collapsed and extended positions in response to relative pivotal movement between said inner frame and said intermediate frame.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
56 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 24 wherein said means includes gear teeth in said leg member, said gear teeth being disposed circumferentially about the axis of rotation of said leg member relative to said first frame, and gear teeth in said second frame in meshing engagement with said gear teeth in said leg member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-08-24 | 1980-02-23 | 1980-08-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-08-24 | 1984-02-23 | 1984-08-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-08-24 | 1988-02-23 | 1988-08-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |