CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE

Abstract

The aspects of the disclosed embodiments relate to a convertible furniture, including at least a first and a second furniture part and thereto supported at least one bed and at least one table part; and pivoting means including a hinge structure between the at least two furniture parts.

The pivoting means are arranged to guide the movement of the furniture part between at least a table position, where at least one table part is arranged horizontally, thereby forming a horizontal table surface, and the at least one bed is unusable; and a bed position, where the at least one bed is usable, and the at least one table part is unusable,

The pivot point (P) of the hinge structure is arranged as a virtual pivot point outside the furniture parts. The disclosed embodiments also relates to a method using the furniture.

Claims

1. A convertible furniture, comprising at least a first and a second furniture part and thereto supported at least one bed (3a, 3b) and at least one table part; pivoting means comprising a hinge structure between the at least two furniture parts arranged to guide their movement between at least a table position, where at least one table part is arranged horizontally, thereby forming a horizontal table surface, and the at least one bed is unusable; and a bed position, where the at least one bed is usable, and the at least one table part is unusable, wherein pivot point (P) of the hinge structure is arranged as a virtual pivot point outside the furniture parts.

2. A convertible furniture according to claim 1, wherein the first furniture part comprises a first frame with a first and a second end support and thereto supported the at least one bed and/or at least one table part; the second furniture part comprises a second frame with a first and a second end support and thereto supported the at least one bed and/or at least one table part.

3. A convertible furniture according to claim 1, wherein the first furniture part is arranged to support a first bed and a first table part and the second furniture part is arranged to support a second bed and a second table part.

4. A convertible furniture according to claim 3, wherein in the table position, the first and second table parts are arranged horizontally, thereby forming a horizontal table surface, and the beds are unusable; and in the bed position, the beds are usable forming a double bed, and the table parts are not usable.

5. A convertible furniture according claim 1, wherein the convertible furniture comprises a table lock arranged to secure the first and second furniture parts in the table position and adapted to be moved with an actuator between a locked position, securing the furniture parts in the table position and an open position, allowing movement of the furniture parts towards the bed position.

6. A convertible furniture according to claim 1, wherein in the bed position, every part or every moving part of the pivoting means is arranged under upper edges of the furniture parts and/or in table position, every part or every moving part of the pivoting means is arranged over lower edges of the furniture parts.

7. A convertible furniture according to claim 2, wherein in the bed position, every part or every moving part of the pivoting means is arranged under upper edges of the end supports and/or in table position, every part or every moving part of the pivoting means is arranged over lower edges of the end supports.

8. A convertible furniture according to claim 2, wherein the pivoting means are turnably supported to the end supports of the furniture parts.

9. A convertible furniture according to claim 8, wherein the pivoting means are attached on or near the edges of the end supports that are the mainly horizontal lower edges of the end supports in the table position.

10. A convertible furniture according to claim 1, wherein the pivoting means comprises two hinge arms, each arm attached turnably on the first and the second furniture part, whereby fastening points of the hinge arms are located symmetrically on the furniture parts.

11-26. (canceled)

27. A convertible furniture according claim 8, wherein the pivoting means are attached to support plates which are attached to the end supports of the furniture parts.

28. A convertible furniture according claim 27, wherein the support plate is attached at and along an edge of the end support.

29. A convertible furniture according to claim 3, wherein in the table position: the upper surfaces of the first and second table parts are arranged substantially flush with each other, thereby forming the horizontal table surface; and the first and second beds are arranged mainly vertical and unusable under the table parts; whereas in the bed position: the first and second beds are arranged horizontal and usable; and the first and second table parts are arranged as vertical sides of the beds.

30. A convertible furniture according to claim 3, wherein each table part is arranged perpendicularly to its end supports , whereby each end support functions in table position as a vertical support against a floor for the table part and in bed position as a vertical bed end.

31. A convertible furniture according to claim 2, wherein one or more partly hidden wheels attached to the end supports, a part of the wheels protruding over one or two edges of the end support in order to ease movement of the furniture against a floor beneath it.

32. A convertible furniture according to claim 5, wherein the actuator is an elongated shaft connected to the table lock, which shaft is supported on the first or the second furniture part.

33. A convertible furniture according to claim 32, wherein the shaft is supported movably below a table part of a furniture part.

34. A convertible furniture according to claim 32, wherein a first end of the elongated shaft is connected to the table lock and the shaft is arranged to extend from there past the first or second bed and towards the second edge of the table part, whereby in table position the second end of the elongated shaft is arranged to be manually engaged by a user situated by the second edge.

35. A method with a convertible furniture according to claim 1, the method comprising moving a first and a second furniture part between at least a bed position and a table position, and supported to the furniture parts at least one bed and at least one table part; guiding said moving with pivoting means comprising a hinge structure between the first furniture part and the second furniture part; wherein arranging pivot point of the hinge structure as a virtual pivot point outside the furniture parts.

36. A method according to claim 35, wherein the first furniture part comprises a first frame with a first and a second end support and thereto supported a first bed and a first table part; the second furniture part comprises a second frame with a first and a second end support and thereto supported a second bed and a second table part, whereby the method comprises in bed position, keeping every part or every movable part of the pivoting means under upper edges of the end supports; and/or in table position, keeping every part or every moving part of the pivoting means over lower edges of the end supports.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0114] The disclosed embodiments are described in more detail below with reference to the enclosed schematic drawing, in which

[0115] FIG. 1 shows a convertible furniture according to the disclosed embodiments in table position in a side view from above the furniture,

[0116] FIG. 2 shows the furniture of FIG. 1 during movement between the table and bed positions,

[0117] FIG. 3 shows the furniture of FIG. 1 in bed position,

[0118] FIG. 4 shows the furniture of FIG. 1 in table position in a perspective view from above the furniture,

[0119] FIG. 5 shows the furniture of FIG. 1 in bed position in a perspective view from above the furniture,

[0120] FIG. 6 shows the locking mechanism of a furniture according to the disclosed embodiments in table position in a partly cut view from above the furniture, the locking mechanism in open position,

[0121] FIG. 7 shows the locking mechanism of FIG. 6 in locked position,

[0122] FIG. 8 shows an outer top corner of a furniture according to the disclosed embodiments in table position, in a perspective view from below, with an extra support not engaged,

[0123] FIG. 9 shows the top corner of FIG. 8 with the extra support engaged,

[0124] FIG. 10 shows support plates of one furniture end in table position,

[0125] FIG. 11 shows the support plates of FIG. 10 in bed position, and

[0126] FIG. 12 shows a lower part of an end support with a wheel in bed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLES OF THE FIGURES

[0127] For the sake of clarity, in different embodiments same reference numerals are used for parts corresponding to each other. For the sake of clarity, every part and feature has not been numbered in every Figure.

[0128] A convertible furniture 1 comprises a first and a second furniture part 2a and 2b. Each of these comprises a frame 11a, 11b and thereto supported a bed 3a, 3b and a table part 4a, 4b. The depicted furniture parts 2a and 2b are almost mirror images of each other. In some embodiments there might be bigger differences between the furniture parts.

[0129] Pivoting means, i.e. hinges 5a and gas springs 5b are arranged between the first and second furniture parts 2a and 2b. They guide and assist the movement of the furniture parts between a table position and a bed position. The pivoting means 5a and 5b are attached to the first and second end supports, i.e. end panels 12a, 12b of the first and second furniture part.

[0130] In the table position, shown e.g. in FIGS. 1 and 4, the frames are standing on their side panels and arranged against each other. The side panels of the frames now on the top are the table parts 4a and 4b. They are now horizontally arranged and substantially flush with each other, forming a horizontal table surface 4 at the top of the furniture. At the same time, the beds 3a and 3b are arranged sideways inside the frames. In other words, the beds are in a vertical position under the table parts, and therefore unusable.

[0131] When moving from the table position to the bed position, the tops of the furniture parts 2a and 2b are turned away from each other, see FIG. 2. The table surface 4 opens at its centre line between the two table parts 4a and 4b. As the frames are turned more and more towards the horizontal, the beds become more and more visible. Finally, as shown e.g. in FIGS. 3 and 5, the furniture is in bed position. This means that the frames 11a and 11b and in them the beds 3a and 3b are in a horizontal position. Beds are usable. At the same time, the table parts 4a and 4b have become side panels for the beds. This means that they are not usable.

[0132] The table parts 4a, 4b comprise first edges 7a, 7b and second edges 8a, 8b parallel to each other, on the opposite sides of the table parts. The first edges 7a, 7b are in the table position against each other at the middle of the table surface 4. In bed position the first edges are arranged as upper edges of the sides of the beds. The second edges 8a, 8b are in the table position arranged as outer edges of the table surface 4, and in bed position they are arranged as lower edges of the sides of the beds.

[0133] Each frame 11a, 11b comprises a first and a second end panel 12a, 12b. Each table part 4a, 4b is arranged perpendicularly between its end panels, whereby each end panel 12a, 12b functions in table position as a vertical support against a floor and in bed position as a vertical bed end. In the depicted embodiment, each end panel 12a, 12b comprises four edges. A first end panel edge 131 is in table position mainly vertical and situated towards the other frame. In bed position the first end panel edge 131 is a mainly horizontal upper edge of the bed end. A second end panel edge 132 is in table position mainly vertical and situated facing away from the other frame. In bed position second end panel edge 132 is a mainly horizontal lower edge of the bed end. A third end panel edge 133 is in table position a mainly horizontal lower edge of the vertical support against a floor. In bed position third end panel edge 133 is mainly vertical and situated towards the other frame. A fourth end panel edge 134 is in table position a mainly horizontal upper edge of the vertical support, supporting the table part 4a or 4b on top of it. In bed position the fourth end panel edge 134 is mainly vertical and situated away from the other frame. In this example the first and second panel edges are substantially parallel to each other. Similarly, the third and fourth panel edges are substantially parallel to each other, but perpendicular against the first and second. This means that in the depicted embodiment the end panels 12a,12b are formed as a substantial rectangle, with rounded corners. This needs not to be the case; the furniture can be designed in many forms.

[0134] To keep the furniture parts 2a, 2b safely in the table position, an easily operated table lock 6 is arranged between the frames 11a, 11b. In a locked position, the table lock secures the furniture parts together. In an open position the table lock allows the movement of the furniture parts 2a, 2b towards the bed position. The table lock 6, seen e.g. in FIGS. 6 and 7, comprises a first locking member 6a on the first table part 4a and a second locking member 6b on the second table part 4b. The locking members 6a, 6b are situated at or near the first edges 7a, 7b of the table parts so that in the table position they are against or very near to each other at the middle of the table. In bed position the locking members are arranged on top edges of the sides of the beds.

[0135] In the depicted embodiments the table lock is a simple latch, with a steel arc 6a, i.e. an arc-shaped steel form, as the first locking member and a pin 6b as the second locking member. The steel arc 6a can be turned in the direction of the plane of the first table part 4a it is arranged on. When the two table parts 4a and 4b are in contact with each other, the steel arc 6a may be turned to reach around and behind the pin 6b, thereby interlocking the steel arc 6a and the pin 6b with each other. This means the table lock 6 is in locking position and the furniture parts 2a, 2b are secured in the table position. When turning the arc 6a so, that the opening in the arc 6a is towards the pin 6b the table lock 6 is in open position. Now the furniture parts 2a, 2b may be turned away from each other.

[0136] To ease the functioning of the table lock 6, a lock actuator, i.e. an elongated shaft 6c is connected at its first end 9a to the steel arc 6a. The shaft 6c is a lever adapted to be turned in the direction of the plane of the first table part 4a. Turning the shaft 6c moves the steel arc 6a and thus the table lock 6 between the locked and open positions. That means that in table position the table lock is opened and secured by turning the shaft 6c horizontally near and under the first table part 4a. The shaft 6c is supported on the inner surface 10a of the first table part 4a with a pivot point 13. The second end 9b of the elongated shaft 6c is arranged towards the second edge 8a of the first table part 4a. The shaft 6c extends, from the table lock 6 past the bed 3a, which is arranged under the table part 4a, towards the second edge 8a of the table part. The second end 9b of the shaft may comprise a handle, where it can be manually engaged by a user, simply by reaching her/his arm under the second edge 8a of the table part. The shaft 6c is adapted to move close to the inner surface 10a. This way it is freely movable in the small gap between the first table part 4a and the first bed 3a situated under the table part. A recess may be formed in the side of the bed to make more space for the shaft to move. One possibility is to arrange the elongated shaft at least partly inside the table part. This may be done e.g. by forming a suitable open recess on the inner surface 10a of the table part 4a. The shaft 6c may also be situated totally or almost totally inside the table part 4a, so that only the second end of it, e.g. a handle is visible and ready to be engaged with a hand.

[0137] In order to ease movement of the furniture against a floor beneath it during the conversion between the table position and the bed position, one or more partly hidden wheels 14a and 14b can be attached to the end panels 12a, 12b. The wheels may e.g. be arranged mostly or partly inside the end panels 12a, 12b so that just a part of each wheel 14a, 14b is protruding over an edge of the end panel. It may be advantageous to arrange the one or more wheels 14a, 14b at the corners which are the outer and lower corners in the table position. That is, the corners where the second and third end panel edges 132 and 133 meet. A wheel may protrude over only the vertical or both the vertical and horizontal panel edges 132 and 133. In FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 the corners where such wheels are positioned are shown with circles. In the depicted embodiments, the wheels 14a, 14b are arranged to protrude over the second and third end panel edges 132 and 133. The wheel may protrude e.g. under 2 mm, under 5 mm, under 20 mm, 2 to 5 mm, 2 to 10 mm, 5 to 10 mm or 2 to 20 mm over the panel edges 132, 133. Extra supports or feet may be arranged at the panel edge 133 so, that in the table position wheels 14a, 14b are not engaged with the floor, but as soon as the movement towards the bed position starts, the wheels 14a, 14b start to engage the floor. This way they facilitate the conversion of the furniture during practically the whole movement between the two positions. The wheels 14a, 14b may be constructed in many ways. It is possible to replace all or some wheels by some other movement facilitating or friction decreasing means, such as plastic glides.

[0138] In FIGS. 8 and 9 is shown an outer top corner of the furniture 1 in table position. A turnable extra support 15 is arranged under the table part 4a. In FIG. 8 it is hidden under the table part, against the corner of end panel 12 and inner surface 10a of the table part. In the drawings the support 15 is fixed to the table part 4a. When preparing to move the furniture into bed position, an outer end 15b of the support 15 is turned around a vertical axis 15a to be engaged with the second end panel edge 132. In the bed position the outer end 15b of the support, situated on the panel edge 132, will engage the floor. On that edge 132, the thickness of the outer end 15b of the support may be the same as the distance the wheels 14a or 14b protrude over the panel edge 132, that is, e.g. under 2 mm, under 5 mm, under 20 mm, 2 to 5 mm, 2 to 10 mm, 5 to 10 mm or 2 to 20 mm. This way, the weight of the furniture 1 in bed position rests on the wheelsl4a, 14b and on the extra support 15. There may be more of these extra supports 15 on different points of the furniture. That would e.g. make it possible to remove all weight from the wheels 14a, 14b in bed position. The support 15 may be manufactured e.g. from a suitable plastic. Also fixed feet or other fixed supports may be arranged in panel edges so that they contact the floor in table and bed positions. Feet or other supports may give extra friction between the furniture and the floor in order to prevent the furniture from unwanted moving of the furniture.

[0139] Figures show embodiments with two elongated support plates 16a and 16b on each end of the furniture. First support plates 16a are attached to the end support plates 12a and 12b of the first furniture part 2a. Second support plates 16b are attached to the end supports 12a and 12b of the second furniture part 2b. Each support plate 16a and 16b supports a wheel 14a or 14b, one end of the hinge arms 5a and 5a′ and one end of the gas spring 5b. The support plates 16a, 16b are attached to the end panels 12a, 12b with screws or bolts 17.

[0140] The support plates are attached at and along the third end panel edges 133, on the inside face of the end supports 12a, 12b. Thus, in table position the support plates 16a, 16b are at the mainly horizontal lower edge of the vertical support against a floor. And in bed position the support plates 16a, 16b are mainly vertical and situated towards the other frame, and against the support plate on the other frame. The support plates 16a, 16b are of the same length and form as the panel edges 133 they are attached to. As a matter of fact, they can be thought to form part of the panel edges 133. FIG. 10 shows mere support plates 16a and 16b with hinge arms 5a, 5a′, gas spring 5b and wheels 14a, 14b of one furniture end in a table position, and FIG. 11 shows the same in a bed position.

[0141] FIG. 12 shows one example of a wheel 14b arranged at a corner of second and third end panel edges 132 and 133. The support plate 16b is attached at and along the third end panel edge 133, on the inside face of the end support 12a. Inside face means the face facing the bed 3a and the other end support 12b. The support plate is aligned with and actually forms parts of both the inner face of end support 12a and the panel edge 133. The wheel 14b is supported and arranged between the inner and outer faces of the end support 12a.

[0142] The wheels 14a, 14b may be simple castors, i.e. pivoting rollers mounted to an axle pin 19 on the support plate. The design of the support plate16a, 16b, the diameter of the wheel 14a, 14b and the position of the axle pin 19 can is chosen so that the wheels will be the outermost point, i.e. the point of contact at any given stage of the transition between bed and table positions.

[0143] One end of the axle pin 19 of the wheel is firmly attached, e.g. by welding, on the support plate 16. The other end of the axle pin 19 may be supported e.g. on the end panel 12a, 12b. However, the axle pin 19 can be dimensioned thicker and of a sufficiently strong material so that it would not bend even without a support on its other end.

[0144] The gas spring 5b aids the transition between the table and bed positions. When moving the furniture between the two positions, the user normally needs most power when starting the movement from the bed position toward the table position. Therefore, the gas springs 5b may be arranged so that they provide some or maximum force, i.e. aid for the user when starting from bed position. The gas springs 5b may provide some or minimum force, i.e. smaller aid for the user when starting from table position. This would help in avoiding unintentional opening from the table position.

[0145] For a smooth movement of the furniture parts, a pivot point P or the point of rotation of the hinge structure may by arranged slightly outside the end supports 12a, 12b of the furniture parts 2a, 2b. An example of an approximate position of the pivot point P is shown with an arrow in FIGS. 10 and 11. It would be problematic if the hinge structure would need any physical parts at the pivot point P, i.e. situated outside the furniture parts. This kind of parts would interfere with the floor or protrude up from the table surface. The hinge according to the Figures doesn't protrude outside the end supports 12a, 12b in table or bed position. Hinge structure between the furniture parts 2a and 2b comprises two hinge arms 5a and 5a′ on both ends of the furniture. The hinge is constructed as a double arm hinge with fastening points 18 of the hinge arms 5a and 5a′ located symmetrically on support plates 16a and 16b. In table position, see FIG. 11, the hinge arms 5a, 5a′ are arranged crossed with each other, i.e. arm 5a is attached at an upper position in the first support plate 16a and at a lower position in the second support plate 16b, whereas the arm 5a′ is attached at an upper position in the second support plate 16b and at a lower position in the first support plate 16a. In bed position, see FIG. 10, the hinge arms 5a and 5a′ are arranged horizontally, at the same level with each other, i.e. the fastening or pivot points 18 of the two hinge arms are at same level with each other.

[0146] The shown hinge structure with two hinge arms 5a and 5a′ and four hinge arm pivot points 18 ensures that turning motion is always the same.

[0147] The hinge arms 5a and 5a′ are located on opposite sides of the plates 16a, 16b to avoid collision with each other. The arms 5a, 5b may be mounted with bearings at their fastening points to avoid wear. If the support plate 16a, 16b is attached at an inner side face of the end support 12a, 12b, at least some of the movable pivoting means, e.g. one of the hinge arms, may need a cavity inside the end support 12a, 12b, to provide space for its moving. Also the wheels 14a, 14b need a cavity inside the end support 12a, 12b.

[0148] The hinge structure is an important if not the main support structure between the two halves of the furniture when they are moved between the table and bed positions. Strength and robustness of the hinge arms 5a and 5a′ is therefore important. They may be made of a metal such as steel, plastic or some other suitable material.

[0149] Feet or other supports may be arranged in panel edges so that they contact the floor in table and bed positions. These feet or other supports may give extra friction between the furniture and the floor in order to prevent the furniture from unwanted rolling.

[0150] The figures show only a few preferred embodiments according to the disclosed embodiments. Facts of secondary importance with regards to the main idea of the disclosed embodiments, facts known as such or evident for a person skilled in the art, such as support structures possibly required by the disclosed embodiments, are not necessarily separately shown in the figures. It is apparent to a person skilled in the art that the disclosed embodiments is not limited exclusively to the examples described above, but that the disclosed embodiments can vary within the scope of the claims presented below. The dependent claims are not to be considered to restrict the scope of protection of the disclosed embodiments as such.