Sofa having shiftable back

J. S. PETERSEN

SOFA HAVING SHIFTABLE BACK

2,623,219

SHEETS—SHEET 1

Dec. 30, 1952

Filed April 22, 1947

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Dec. 30, 1952

J. S. PETERSEN

2,623,219

SOFA HAVING SHIFTABLE BACK

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Patented Dec. 30, 1952

2,623,219

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,623,219

SOFA HAVING SHIFTABLE BACK

John S. Petersen, Kenosha, Wis., assignor to Simmons Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware

Application April 22,1947, Serial No. 742,990

Claim.

The main objects of this invention are, to provide a sofa bed combination with an improved construction and mounting of a back section for conveniently positioning pillows uprightly when the sofa bed combination is to be used for sitting purposes and for retraction to an elevated position so as to render the full width of the mattress conveniently available for sleeping purposes; to provide improved means for yieldingly retaining said back section against accidental displacement from its elevated position; and to provide a back section of this kind which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture and which is convenient and positive in its operation.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a transverse view of a sofa bed combination equipped with an improved back section embodying this invention, the view showing in dot-and-dash lines a mattress, a back pillow, and an end arm pillow in sofa position;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the improved back section with the retracting spring omitted ;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the right-hand end of the sofa bed combination with the back section shown in its retracted elevated position; and

Fig. 4 is an end view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the back section in its retracted or elevated position.

A sofa bed combination wherein has been incorporated this invention comprises a spring and mattress support 5 whereon is mounted a back section 6 of preferred construction.

The spring and mattress support 5 is of a more or less conventional construction including a base 1 for supporting a superimposed spring 8 and mattress 9 between ends 10. The base 7 is supported in spaced relationship to the floor by means of foot blocks 11 and 12 secured to the ends 10. The ends are connected together at their upper rear corners by means of a rear member 13. The spring 8 and mattress 9 may be of any suitable construction and of approximately full size width and length.

One or more pillows 14 of suitable size and design are adapted to rest on the mattress 9 against the back section 6, and suitable arm supports 15 may be provided.

The back section 6 comprises a shelf or spacing member 16, a back rest or pillow support 17, and positioning mechanism 18.

The shelf member 16 is hinged to the rear frame member 13 at 19 so that it may be swung between a normally horizontal position as shown (Cl. 5—59) in Figs. 1 and 2 and a nearly vertical position as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The back rest or pillow support 17 is hinged at 23 to the shelf member 16 with the upper lateral ⁵ edge, which contacts with the under face of the shelf member 16, disposed at an angle so that the back rest 17, in its normally lowered pillowsupporting position, is. slightly inclined to the vertical with the lower end thereof just touching ¹⁰ the mattress 9. The shelf member 16 and back rest 17 are of such widths that when in their normal pillow-supporting positions, the pillows 14 will be positioned sufficiently forward of the rear lateral edge of the mattress to make the device convenient for daytime use as a sofa.

As will clearly appear, the exposed portions of the shelf 16 and back rest 17 are covered with facings 21 and 22, of fabric, leather, or other suitable material as taste and utility may dictate.

-20 _{The back sec}ti_on positioning mechanism 18 comprises a pair of links 23 and a spring 24. The links 23 are arranged one at each end of the back section, whereas the spring 24 is arranged intermediate the ends thereof.

²⁵ Each link 23, at its inner end, is pivoted at 2S to a block 26 secured to the inner face of one of the ends 10. At its outer end the link is pivoted at 27 to an inwardly disposed bracket 28 secured near the lower edge of the back rest 17.

The links 23 thus serve to guide the back rest in its movement between its extreme positions. A pin or stop 29 is secured to each of the brackets 28 forwardly of and below the respective pivotal connection 27 of the link 23 thereto, so as to be 35 engaged by the outer end of the link 23 to determine the normal lowered position of the back section 6, as is so clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

When the back section 6 occupies its pillow supporting position, the link 23 is inclined down40 wardly and forwardly from the block 26 to the back rest 17, so that the back rest is prevented from moving rearwardly during its initial upward movement from its normal position. Thus, the forces exerted against the back rest by the 45 weight of the person or persons occupying the sofa bed will not tend to raise the back rest, but rather will tend to force it downwardly to maintain the entire back section more firmly in pillowsupporting position. These forces are resisted 50 primarily by the engagement of the link 23 with the stop 29, but may also be resisted by the engagement of the shelf member 16 at its rear edge with the rear member (3 and block 26, and at its forward edge, with the back rest 17. Tire 55 entire back section thus forms a rigid structure

2,623,219 which will immovably resist all forces directly rearwardly against the back rest 17, but which may be easily collapsed and retracted by a slight force directed upwardly against the forward lower edge of the back rest Π.

The spring 24 at its upper end is secured to a screw eye 30 located about midway between the longitudinal edges and the ends of the under side of the top plate 16. At its lower end the spring 24 is attached to a lug 31 secured to the innei- face of the pillow rest 17 below the level of the lower edges of the plates 28. With this arrangement the spring 24 is not greatly stretched by the movement of the back section 6 from its retracted elevated position to its normal lowered position, although the back section in being so moved is displaced a considerable distance. Since the amount of extension of the spring is therefore quite small in comparison to its length, a very ordinary spring will be able to furnish adequate counterbalancing force for the back section at any of its intermediate positions without exceeding its elastic range.

It will be apparent from the drawings that as the back rest 17 is shifted between its extreme positions it will pass through one position at which the pivot points 25, 27, and 20 will be linearly aligned, and at which the shelf member and the back rest will attain maximum elevation above their respective normal positions. The back section is unstable in this position and may be positively urged by the weight of the shelf member 16 and the back rest 17 either toward its retracted position or its lowered position, according to the direction of its initial displacement out of alignment. Inasmuch as the interior angle between the shelf member and the back rest is greater at the aforesaid position of pivotal alignment than when the back section 6 occupies its retracted position, the spring 24 tends to break the toggle 25—27—20 rearwardly to fully retract the back section.

A recess 32 is formed in each of the links 23 to receive a pin 29 when the back section 6 is in its elevated position, as shown in Fig. 4. This ensures the back rest 17 being positioned rearwardly the fullest possible distance.

When it is desired to use this sofa bed combination as a daytime sofa the back section 6 would be positioned as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. When it is desired to use the sofa bed combination for sleeping purposes, the back section 6 would be shifted to its retracted elevated position as shown in Fig. 4, which would make the full width of the mattress 9 conveniently available for sleeping purposes.

Variations and modifications in the details of structure and arrangement of the parts may be resorted to within the spirit and coverage of the appended claim.