U.S. patent number 3,594,832 [Application Number 04/837,706] was granted by the patent office on 1971-07-27 for convertible bunk/chesterfield.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Golda Bryks, June Marie Bulmer. Invention is credited to Abram Izak Bryks.
United States Patent |
3,594,832 |
Bryks |
July 27, 1971 |
CONVERTIBLE BUNK/CHESTERFIELD
Abstract
A Convertible Bunk/chesterfield, i.e. a furniture piece which is
readily and easily convertible from chesterfield to bunk and vice
versa, in which spring loaded holding means are provided to support
the outer edge of the upper of the bunk portions, together with
drawing means to overcome the spring force of the holding means.
The upper bunk portion is swingable near its back edge upon release
of the holding means to assume a near vertical position which is
the back of the chesterfield. The upper bunk portion is replaced to
its upper position manually and the springloaded holding means
automatically take their holding position when the upper bunk is in
its upper position.
Inventors: |
Bryks; Abram Izak (Toronto,
Ontario, CA) |
Assignee: |
June Marie Bulmer (Clarkson,
Onatario, CA)
Golda Bryks (Toronto, Ontario, CA)
|
Family
ID: |
41566100 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/837,706 |
Filed: |
June 30, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/9.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C
19/205 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47C
17/00 (20060101); A47C 17/16 (20060101); A47c
017/40 () |
Field of
Search: |
;312/231,233,237,240,241,245 ;5/9,59 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Nunberg; Casmir A.
Claims
I claim:
1. In a convertible bunk/chesterfield article of furniture having a
lower bunk portion and an upper bunk portion, the improvement
comprising:
moveable support means beneath said upper bunk portion, said
support means being spring-urged into supporting relationship
beneath said upper bunk portion;
pivot means at each side of said upper bunk portion in fixed
spatial relationship to said lower bunk portion, said upper bunk
portion being adapted to swing about said pivot means;
and rope means having handle means associated therewith, said rope
means being adapted to overcome the spring force of said
spring-urged support means and to move said support means away from
supporting relationship beneath said upper bunk portion when a pull
of sufficient force is made on said handle means.
2. The improved bunk/chesterfield of claim 1 when said moveable
support means comprises at least one wing hingedly mounted beneath
said upper bunk portion, and being urged forward by spring-hinges
mounting the same.
3. The improved bunk/chesterfield of claim 2 when said moveable
support means comprises two wings hingedly mounted beneath said
upper bunk portion, one near each side thereof.
4. The improved bunk/chesterfield of claim 1 when said moveable
support means comprises pin means spring urged to extend from
beneath the upper bunk portion to beyond the sides thereof into
fixed receiving means therefor.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an article of furniture which is adapted
to convert from a bunk-bed to a chesterfield, and vice versa. Most
particularly, the invention teaches a bunk/chesterfield which is
easily convertible, and which is useful in homes, cottages,
dormitories, motels, trains, and the like.
It is very often desirable to provide an article of sitting
furniture, such as a chesterfield, in a room which may be used
during certain hours for such purposes as a chesterfield may be
required, but it may also be desirable to provide sleeping
accommodation for at least two persons in the same room and with no
greater demands on floor space. At the same time, it is always
desirable to provide such accommodation as economically as
possible. It is therefore important to provide an article of
furniture having the features aforesaid, i.e. convertibility from
bunk to chesterfield and vice versa, and which is simple to operate
and uncomplicated to manufacture and assemble. It has also been
found that is best to provide such furniture wherein the
manipulation of whatever means is provided to accommodate the
convertibility is such as to convert the furniture from bunk to
chesterfield.
BRIEF DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART
Most often, in the past, convertible bunk/chesterfield furniture
has been made with means primarily intended to convert the
furniture from chesterfield to bunk. This has necessitated the
provision of complicated lifting and/or extending machinery; or has
required more floor space than may be immediately available. Some
recent examples of convertible bunk/chesterfields which are quite
complicated in their structure are: U.S. Pat. No. 3,027,571 issued
Apr. 3, 1962 to Benedixon et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,047,885 issued
Aug. 7, 1962 to Bolinger; U.S. Pat. No. 3,310,815 issued Mar. 28,
1967 to Griffin; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,311,932 issued Apr. 4,
1967.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a convertible
bunk/chesterfield which is economically built and easily
operated.
It is another object of this invention to provide a convertible
bunk/chesterfield with simple means to convert from bunk to
chesterfield, said means permitting the reconversion from
chesterfield to bunk by merely lifting the upper bunk portion of
the furniture into place with automatic locking means therefor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other objects and features of the invention are discussed
in greater detail hereafter, in association with the drawings, in
which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bunk/chesterfield with the
upper bunk portion thereof in its raised position;
FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the upper bunk portion
in its lowered position;
FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view looking up at the underside of
the upper bunk portion, and showing a preferred embodiment of the
operating mechanism therefor;
FIG. 4 is another partial perspective view showing an alternative
embodiment for the operating mechanism; and
FIG. 5 is yet another partial perspective view showing another
alternative embodiment for the operating mechanism.
Like reference numerals are used throughout the discussion of the
various Figures of the drawings to denote the same integer
variously illustrated therein.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The basic principle of the bunk/chesterfield of this invention is
that the mechanism which holds the upper bunk portion in its raised
position is spring-urged to do so; and that the spring force must
be overcome, and the holding mechanism moved thereagainst, in order
to lower the upper bunk portion; and that when the upper bunk
portion is lifted to its raised position, the holding mechanism is
again spring-urged into operative position without further
manipulation by the operator.
The bunk/chesterfield 10 basically comprises an upper bunk portion
12 and a lower bunk portion 14. The embodiment illustrated in FIGS.
1 and 2 is a simple one which may be particularly useful at such as
a cottage, and has shelves or other storage space 13 at each end.
The sizes of the upper and lower bunk portions may be identical or
not, as required; for example, the upper portion may be narrower
than the lower so that the bunk may provide sleeping accommodation
for three persons, with two in the lower bunk.
In any event, it will be seen that the upper bunk portion has a
mattress 16 which may have a spring arrangement with it, and a
supporting frame 18. The frame 18 is held from beneath in one of
several manners discussed hereafter, but it is adapted to swing
about a pivot point 20 near the rear end of each of its sides. The
mattress 16 is conveniently held to the frame 18 so that, when the
upper portion 12 is in its lowered position, the mattress 16
provides an upholstered back for the chesterfield.
The height of pivot points 20 above the mattress 22 of lower
portion 14 is usually chosen so that the frame 18, when swung
downwardly, comes to rest by interference with mattress 22 in a
position having an angle greater than perpendicular to the mattress
22. Of course, stop means other than the interference of the frame
18 with the lower portion 14 may be provided to hold the frame 18,
and therefore upper portion 12, in any particular orientation when
in its lowered position.
It will also be noted that the pivot points 20 are conveniently
fixed with respect the lower portion 12 by their incorporation into
the side of the shelving 13 which, in this case, is integral with
head and/or foot boards 23 of the lower portion 14. However, in any
installation it is necessary only that the pivot points 20 are
fixed relative to the lower portion 14 regardless of the specific
structure employed. The pivots themselves may conveniently be bolts
that are journaled into the supporting structure and having sleeve
bearings through frame 18, or any other suitable pivot means may be
used.
Turning now to FIG. 3, there is illustrated the detail of a
preferred embodiment of the supporting mechanism for the upper
portion 12, which structure is also shown in FIG. 1. In this
embodiment, there are two wings 26, each of which is hinged at its
rear edge 28 with hinges 30. The hinges 30 are chosen and mounted
such that they are spring-urged into the open position so that the
wings 26 are in the forward position shown in solid lines in FIG.
3, and in FIG. 1. The forward position to which the wings 26 are
urged by spring-hinges 30 is, of course, the supporting position
for the upper bunk portion 12. The dimensions of the wings 26 are
chosen so that, when in the forward position, they provide ample
support for the frame 18 of the upper bunk portion 12.
To lower the upper bunk portion 12, it is necessary to force the
wings 26 into the back position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3,
where they are no longer in supporting relationship to the
underside of the upper bunk portion. To accomplish this, there is
provided a rope and pulley system which also provides a simple
means of lowering the upper bunk portion 12.
One end of each of a pair of ropes 31 or other such flexible means
such as wire or cable of sufficient tensile strength, is fixedly
attached near the outer edge of the wings 26 at 32. A pair of
pulleys 34 is placed at the rear of the underside of the upper bunk
portion 12 in positions to be clear of the outer ends of the wings
26 when in their back position; and a further pair of pulleys 36 is
placed near the front edge of the underside of the upper bunk
portion 12. In the embodiment illustrated, there is also shown a
pair of eyes 38 through which the ropes 31 extend before
terminating at handle 40. The eyes 38 could be omitted, or replaced
by another pair of pulleys.
In any event, it becomes clear that to lower the upper bunk portion
12 it is necessary to grasp the handle 40 and pull outwards, away
from the bunk portion, as indicated by arrow 37. Obviously, the
wings 26 will be pulled to their back position, as shown in dotted
lines in FIG. 3, and as indicated by the arrows 39, against the
spring force of the hinges 30. When the wings have been swung back
far enough that they no longer fully support the weight of the
upper bunk portion 12, it will begin to swing downwards, pivoting
about the pivot points 20 at each side. As the upper bunk portion
12 begins to swing downwards, its weight may be taken by the
operator by keeping grasp of the handle 40 in its extended position
as shown in FIG. 3, and the upper portion may be gently
lowered.
Thus, it is seen that means have been provided to lower the upper
bunk portion 12 of the bunk/chesterfield 10, which means overcomes
spring means urging support means for the upper portion to its
operative (i.e. supporting) position, and which means permits the
gentle lowering of the upper bunk portion without the necessity for
complicated and expensive machinery.
To place the upper bunk portion 12 in its raised position, it is
merely necessary to grasp the underside of the front of frame 18,
or the edges near the front thereof, and to lift the bunk portion
so that it pivots up around pivot points 20. When the upper bunk
portion is raised high enough, the wings 26 will swing forward to
their supporting position due to the urging forward of the
spring-hinges 30. As the wings swing forward, the ropes 31 will
resume their operative positions, and the upper bunk portion 12
will be ready to again be lowered when required while meantime
functioning as a bunk for sleeping accommodation.
FIG. 4 shows another embodiment for the supporting means for the
upper bunk portion 12. In this embodiment, there is provided only a
single wing 26a which is urged forwards in the same manner as the
wings 26 shown in FIG. 3. A rope 31a is fed around pulley 34a and
through eye 38a to handle 40a. A pull on handle 40a will urge the
wing 26a backwards in the same manner as discussed above. The
embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 is not as satisfactory as the
others shown, because the support for the upper bunk portion 12 is
only in one place rather than at both ends. However, the principle
of operation remains the same.
In FIG. 5, there is illustrated a further alternative for the
support means for upper bunk portion 12. For this embodiment, it is
necessary that wall means 42, or other suitable means, be provided
near the front edge of each side of the upper bunk portion 12 so as
to accommodate pin means protruding thereinto as discussed
hereafter. Such means as will 42 can be, for instance, a vertical
extension of the foot and head boards 23 of the lower bunk portion
14 of the bunk/chesterfield.
In any event, a pin 44 extends through each side of frame 18 into
suitable receiving means in wall support means 42; and the pins 44
are attached at their inner ends 46 to ropes 31b which feed past
pulleys 36b to handle 40b. The pins are supported beneath the upper
bunk portion 12 by such means as sleeve bearings 48, and the pins
44 are urged outwardly through the sides of frame 18 into the
support means 42 by springs 50 which may conveniently be compressed
between the outer edges of bearings 48 and retaining means such as
washers 52 which are fixed to the pins 44. A pull outwards, away
from the upper bunk portion 12, on handle 40b will withdraw the
pins 44 from their receiving means in support 42 against the
outward urging of springs 50, and the upper bunk portion 12 may be
lowered by pivoting about pivot points 20 as discussed above. The
upper bunk portion 12 is also raised as discussed above until the
pins 44 move, due to the urging of springs 50, into their receiving
means in supports 42, whereby the upper bunk portion is again
securely in its raised position.
There has been disclosed a convertible bunk/chesterfield furniture
piece which has simple means for supporting the upper bunk portion
in its raised position, and for lowering the same, and in which
there is no complicated machinery necessary to lift the upper bunk
portion to its raised position and to hold the same securely in
that position.
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
* * * * *