U.S. patent number 3,916,461 [Application Number 05/441,175] was granted by the patent office on 1975-11-04 for article of furniture with a multi-section support surface.
This patent grant is currently assigned to GerdiKerstholt geb. Spath, Fritz Kersthott. Invention is credited to Fritz Kerstholt.
United States Patent |
3,916,461 |
Kerstholt |
November 4, 1975 |
Article of furniture with a multi-section support surface
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',16",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').
Inventors: |
Kerstholt; Fritz (Leun,
DT) |
Assignee: |
GerdiKerstholt geb. Spath
(N/A)
Kersthott; Fritz (N/A)
|
Appl.
No.: |
05/441,175 |
Filed: |
February 11, 1974 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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Feb 14, 1973 [DT] |
|
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7305571 |
Mar 9, 1973 [DT] |
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2311640 |
Apr 5, 1973 [DT] |
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7312840 |
Apr 26, 1973 [DT] |
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7315769 |
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Current International
Class: |
A61G 007/10 ();
A47C 003/32 () |
Field of
Search: |
;5/55,56,67-69
;247/340 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Nunberg; Casmir A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Wells; Gilbert L.
Claims
I claim:
1. An article of furniture comprising a base frame and a plurality
of support members providing a multi-section 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 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 frame
without being braced by another support member.
2. The article of claim 1, wherein at least one section (13, 17) is
provided with at least one beam (15,17') projecting therefrom, the
beam connected by at least one spring support system (16') to said
middle section (13, 17) directly.
3. The article of claim 1, wherein said middle section (17) has a
stop (20) for locking said middle section relative to said base
frame (10, 10').
4. The article as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stop means
containing a common stop device has a handle for loosening and
securing said stops of at least two sections simultaneously.
5. The article of claim 4, wherein said common stop device is
mounted on said base frame or a bracket thereof.
6. The article of claim 4, wherein said common stop device is
mounted on one of said sections or a beam (17') of a section.
7. The article of claim 4, wherein said common stop device is a
step-wise acting mechanism wherein said stops (34, 36, 48, 49) are
released or locked in groups or individually one after the other or
simultaneously.
8. The article of claim 4, wherein said stop device is a slip
clutch for at least one of the stops.
9. The article of claim 8, wherein said beam (18) is a vertical
bracket projecting down from said base frame.
10. The article of claim 1, wherein at least one end section has a
beam (15) is so disposed relative to the line of action of the
spring support system (16, 16', 16", 38, 49) connected thereto that
-- on the end section (12, 13) connected to that beam being
pivotably displaced in such a direction as to increase the force
exerted thereon by the spring system -- the effective lever arm
exerted on that end section by the spring system increases for a
determined range of inclination.
11. The article of claim 1, wherein said bearings of the middle
section are mounted on a horizontal axle (11) connected to said
base frame and are situated in the two middle quarters of the
length of said middle section (17).
12. The article of claim 1, wherein said spring support system has
a non-linear characteristic.
13. The article of claim 1, wherein said spring support system is a
pneumatic spring also functioning as a stop.
14. The article as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the
end sections is connected by said at least one spring support
system to said middle section.
15. The article of claim 1, wherein said 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.
16. The article of claim 1, wherein 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.
17. The article of claim 1, wherein at least one of said end
sections is connected to said middle section by said at least one
spring support system and said spring support system has a
non-linear characteristic.
18. The article of claim 1, wherein at least one of said end
sections is connected to said middle section by said at least one
spring support system comprising a pneumatic spring also
functioning as a stop.
19. The article of claim 1, wherein at least one of said end
sections is connected to said middle section by said at least one
spring support system comprising a gas spring also functioning as a
stop.
20. The article of claim 1, wherein a beam (15) at an end section
(12, 13) is fixed at a given angular position so that an increasing
effective lever arm with respect to spring action line results.
21. The article of claim 1, wherein said spring support system is a
gas spring also functioning as a stop.
22. The article of claim 1, wherein said stop means has a common
stop device mounted on one of said section.
23. The article of claim 1, wherein said 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.
24. The article of claim 1, wherein said stop means has a stop
device with a slip clutch for at least one of the stops.
25. An article of furniture comprising a base frame and a plurality
of support members providing a multi-section 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 spring 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
end portion of the center section (17).
26. The article of claim 26, wherein said limiter (37', 37") is
relatively adjusted with respect to a horizontal axle (11)
supported by said base frame (10) on which said bearings of the
middle section are mounted.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Applicants claim priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 for
West German Utility Model (Gebrauchsmuster) G 73 055 71.7, entitled
Recliner with Multi-Section Reclining Surface, filed Feb. 14,
1973;
West German Patent application P 23 11 640.7, entitled Seating or
Reclining Furniture, filed Mar. 9, 1973;
West German Utility Model (Gebrauchsmuster) G 73 12 840.2, entitled
Seating and/or Reclining Furniture with Movable Back, filed Apr. 5,
1973; and
West German Utility Model (Gebrauchsmuster) G 73 157 69.4, entitled
Seating and/or Reclining Furniture with Movable Back, filed Apr.
26, 1973.
BACKGROUND OF THHE INVENTION
The field of the invention are articles of furniture, preferably in
the form of couchs or beds with independent adjustment of head and
foot sections. The invention is particularly concerned with an
article of furniture having a pluralsection reclining surface, in
which at least one of the end sections is pivoted with respect to
the base frame. Such articles are known per se. In one of the known
embodiments, 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. If subsequently the section is to be set to
a more acute angle, then one must first lift the section again so
that the rail will leave the teeth of the catch. The rail is lifted
above the teeth by means of a pull rod mounted on the rail.
Operating the recliner in this manner is complex and impossible by
a person situated on the couch. To remedy this shortcoming,
electric motors have been mounted with each of the sections to be
adjusted and they are controlled by the user to carry out the
desired adjustment of the section via spindle or spur rack drives.
This solution, however, is very costly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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. Also, the middle section may be mounted on a horizontal
axle of the base frame and be pivoted clockwise or
counter-clockwise 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, which will
be common to at least the stops of two sections so as to lock these
stops. 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. Further, 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 the base 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 section's 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 above-mentioned 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. Two or three sections may be brought into
the desired relative position merely by the body weight of the user
or by the user's change of position to the desired one. It is
merely the stopping which requires manual operation.
Because support springs known per se are used, of which the loading
and chharacteristics may be adjusted, the new article of furniture
may be fitted to users of varying weights, so that a "flowing"
operation of the couch or bed is obtained as regards the user.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Embodiments of the article of furniture shown in schematic form in
the drawings and described herein with similar considerations
applying to the details are:
FIG. 1, the article of furniture of the present invention with
movable end or foot and head sections;
FIG. 1a, a clamping device for the stops of FIG. 1;
FIG. 1b, 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. 3, a couch or bed of the present invention with a common
spring support system;
FIG. 3a, the couch or bed of FIG. 3 with pneumatic springs;
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. 6, a couch or bed of the present invention with a clamping
device at the beam of the middle section; and
FIG. 7, still another embodiment of the couch or bed of the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Base frame 10 of the couch or bed is shown in FIG. 1 as being
formed of a frame resting on feet. A frame-like top section 12 and
a frame-like bottom section 13 are rotatably supported about axles
14. A u-shaped beam 15 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 cross-part of the 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 acting
on the beam of the top section is a telescopic 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 pin 19 of a 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.
In lieu of the embodiment of the clamping device shown above, one
may also advantageously employ one wherein, instead of the front
cam disks around the clamping pin, two parallel eccentric cam
plates are supported on either side of the longitudinal axis of the
clamping pin by means of an axle passing transversely through the
clamping pin, the eccentric cam plates being adjustable in common
by means of a handle. 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.
It may be desired in certain applications that one or several stops
will yield when a given loading is being exceeded, until the
section has assumed its horizontal position. To that end, 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 the force
exerted by the helical spring. An example to that effect is shown
in dashed lines in FIG. 1.
In lieu of the cam plates, one may make use in the embodiments
shown of another, similarly acting clamping device.
Even though the 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.
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'. Further, 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.
As already described in FIG. 1, it is of advantage for the proper
operation of the new couch or bed that the operational lever arms
increase to a definite angular position when the sections are
inclined. This especially applies to couches or beds with three
movable sections, where a growing operational lever arm of the
associated spring system results for instance when inclining
section 12 or section 17 while keeping the set angle between the
two sections, and also when simultaneously inclining the sections
towards the base frame and with respect to one another. The
advantage applies especially in the last cited case, when the
operational lever arm is very large and effective.
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.
In lieu of the side bars and spring, pneumatic or gas springs may
advantageously be used, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 3a. As
shown, 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. Again 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.
On occasion, it may be desirable that only one of the sections be
changed in its relative position to the base frame, while the
other(s) are to be kept unchanged. In such a case, a step-wise
acting clamping device can be advantageously applied, as shown in
the embodiment of FIG. 4a. 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 30 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. If rotation of eccentric cams 30 is performed
now by means of handle 31, then bars 37 exerting pressure on the
eccentric cams will first lock stops 34, stops 36 still being
freely movable. Upon further rotation of the eccentric cams, the
bars will bend and also clamp stops 36. This quick acting clamping
device therefore allows the locking of only one of the sections
while the other remains free to move, or else stops both.
It is easily seen that more than the number of stops shown may be
locked by means of this quick acting clamping device, the
association of these stops being undertaken in accordance with the
desired requirements. Hence, more than two sections of a couch or
bed may also be locked by means of this quick acting clamping
device.
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'. In this instance, 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 ilustrated 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 12, 17, 10. However, one may also dimension stop 20
associated with section 12 so that it will assume the function of
the rigid support. Lastly, the rigid support may consist of
additional constructional elements, for example as shown in FIG.
5a. It will be noticed 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.
Lastly, one may desire to make the support adjustable with respect
to its position relative to the base frame. The advantage obained
thereby is free selection within certain limits of the operational
location of the rigid support, which may be of particular
significance for the ailing or invalid using such a couch or bed.
Such an embodiment is shown in front view in FIG. 5b. 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. As may be seen, following the loosening
of screws 42, 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.
Even though the clamping device was shown supported at the base
frame or at a section of the couch or bed, or at a beam of the
couch or bed, fundamentally one may also mount the clamping device
on a stop or a spring support system without thereby exceeding the
scope of the invention. Similar considerations apply in the same
fundamental manner to the embodiments shown in the Figures, which
show combinations of a given kind of constructional elements,
actuation points of springs, levers, etc. Interchanges allow
combinations of different kinds which also represent useful
articles of furniture and wherein use is made of the ideas
disclosed herein and all within the scope of the present invention.
For example, see the embodiment of FIG. 7.
Particularities were described and claimed in relation to the
figures which will provide reclining furniture with special
advantages over the known art. Many of these particularities may
also be applied to furniture for seating, and to that extent, it is
the intention of the present application to protect the application
to furniture for seating.
METHOD OF CARRYING OUT THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With particular reference to FIG. 2, the new article of furniture
operates as follows:
Assume the mentioned sections are in the relative position shown by
dashed lines. If the user of the couch or bed now simultaneously
inclines section 12 or even sections 12 and 17 because he is
leaning back, then spring system 16' will be compressed as much as
is possible. But thereafter it will constitute a rigid support for
the beam of section 12, this section then resting upon the beam
while inclining proceeds and being guided by it in circular manner
about the junction point of spring system 16' at the base frame.
Thus section 12 rotates further in the clockwise sense, while
section 17 pivots in the counterclockwise sense. These motions
continue until section 12 rests by means of its free end on the
rear, upward bent end of base frame 10' acting as a limiter.
Determined by the selection of design length, angular positions
etc. of the constructional components, the horizontal position will
then also have been assumed by center section 17, so that an
adjoining horizontal position will result for both sections 12 and
17.
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.
In this instance too, 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.
Obviously, the spring system associated with the bottom section may
actuate latter directly or also at bracket 17' of center section 17
(FIG. 2a).
As was shown, operation of the couch or bed described is especially
favorable when spring support systems of non-linear
characteristics, for instance stepwise, are used. On this basis,
the support spring associated with 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 reclining and sitting positions that cannot be
obtained from any known couch or bed.
* * * * *