CUSHION WITH SUPPORTING FRAME FOR UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE

Abstract

A cushion (1) whose configuration can be varied is constituted by a cushion element (10) inside which there is a fixed frame (20), which covers a lower section (13) of said cushion element (10), and two movable frames (25A), (25B), symmetrical, hinged above said fixed frame (20) and adapted to be comprised within an upper section (14) of the cushion element (10) itself. The movable frames (25 A), (25B) can swing up to 180 independently of one another, for aligning a respective portion (14A), (14B) of said upper section (14) from an external horizontal position (HE) to an internal horizontal position (HI), passing through a vertical neutral position (N) in which the same portion (14A), (14B) is substantially aligned with said lower section (13). In a sofa (D) or an armchair (P) in which the backrest (100) and the armrests (110) are defined by respective cushions (1), many possible configurations of the same are possible, in order to offer maximum seating comfort.

Claims

1.-13. (canceled)

14. A cushion for upholstered furniture for leaning or sitting such as beds, sofas or armchairs, including a cushion element, constituted by an upholstery of soft material stuffed in a flabby covering, the cushion element being configured so that two opposite main sides can be identified that are peripherally joined by connection sides, comprising: an elongated fixed frame arranged so as to identify in the cushion element an upper section located above the fixed frame; at least two movable frames housed within the same cushion element in correspondence of the upper section, with each of the movable frames being hinged, independently from the other, to the fixed frame according to at least one hinge axis substantially parallel to a direction of elongation of the fixed frame, and arranged to take different positions, each of which is provided to determine a desired orientation of at least one portion of the upper section of the cushion element; movement control means associated with the hinge axes, adapted to determine the entity of deformation action needed to rotate the at least one movable frame, so as to maintain a stable position when a deformation action is applied that is lower than a certain predetermined amount; and connecting members for connecting the cushion element to an external structure.

15. The cushion according to claim 14, wherein the connecting members are constituted by elongate rigid elements associated to the fixed frame and configured to extend from it in such a way that it protrudes outwards the cushion element by passing through one or more passage holes provided in the flabby covering and it extends a determined amount from a rear side of the main sides of the cushion element.

16. The cushion according to claim 14, wherein the fixed frame extends horizontally at a vertically intermediate level of the cushion element so as to define a lower section of the cushion element located below the fixed frame, the lower section being devoid of rigid frame elements.

17. The cushion according to claim 14, wherein the at least two movable frames extend to define corresponding profiled members rotatable about a common axis in a vicinity of opposite longitudinal ends of the fixed frame and extending mainly in a direction of an upper end of the upper section.

18. The cushion according to claim 14, wherein the connecting members are associated with the fixed frame in removable mode, wherein coupling members of the fixed frame with the connecting members are completely contained within the cushion element.

19. The cushion according to claim 15, wherein the connecting members comprise: a bar element that extends from the fixed frame from a longitudinally central portion of it; wherein, in order to extend outwards the cushion element at an opening of the flabby covering provided at a vertically central area of the rear side, wherein the bar element is provided with a coupling portion with an external structure adapted to allow rotation around a bar element longitudinal axis.

20. The cushion according to claim 15, wherein the flabby covering includes elongated openings closable by means of zippers, Velcro joints or the like, wherein, to permit removal of the flabby covering, the elongated openings are arranged in the rear side in such a way as to affect the passage apertures for the connecting members.

21. The cushion according to claim 14, wherein the movement control means are of the friction type and calibrated so as to stably maintain each position set by the movable frames upon actions weaker than a predetermined entity.

22. Upholstered furniture including at least one upholstered support plane being substantially horizontal and at least one vertically extending wall extending upwards with respect to the support plane, comprising: at least one cushion according to claim 19 and operably associated with the vertically extending wall by means of the connecting members.

23. The upholstered furniture according to claim 22, wherein the vertically extending wall provides housing means for housing the connecting members of the cushion, wherein the housing means are provided in correspondence to an upward oriented surface of the vertically extending wall.

24. The upholstered furniture according to claim 23, wherein the housing means comprise a bushing integral to a frame of the vertically extending wall and disposed in proximity to the upward oriented surface of the vertically extending wall in order to realize in it an opening, an internal bore of the bushing being suitable for accommodating the bar element of the cushion.

25. The upholstered furniture according to claim 23, wherein the vertically extending wall is an armrest or a backrest of a sofa or armchair, or a headboard of a bed, wherein the housing means are operably associated with a substantially horizontal top side of the vertically extending wall extending inwardly of the vertically extending wall for receiving the connecting members of the cushion as a result of a substantially vertical sliding of the same.

26. The upholstered furniture according to claim 23, further comprising a plurality of housing means arranged with a plurality of respective openings aligned along the upward oriented surface of the vertically extending wall.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0019] The characteristics of the invention will be easily understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the same, in accordance with the contents of claims and with the help of the attached pages of drawings, in which:

[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates a cushion according to the present invention in a first configuration in which the cushion connection members are arranged horizontally: FIG. 1a shows a side view, FIG. 1b shows a rear view;

[0021] FIG. 2 shows in a front view, in partial section, a portion of an upholstered furniture according to the present invention comprising the cushion of FIG. 1 represented in four different configurations in FIGS. 2a to 2d;

[0022] FIG. 3 shows a detail of FIG. 2a;

[0023] FIGS. 4 to 7 show variants of furniture according to the present invention comprising cushions according to the invention: FIGS. 4a, 5a and 6a show front views, FIGS. 4b, 5b, 6b and 7 show plan views.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] In the figures listed above it is indicated as a whole with the reference number 1 a cushion for upholstered furniture according to the present invention.

[0025] The cushion 1, as will be evident, is not so much suitable for a stand-alone use but rather to be associated with upholstered furniture such as beds, sofas or armchairs, in particular in correspondence of the armrests, backrests, or headboards.

[0026] The cushion 1 comprises a per se known cushion element, 10, constituted by a upholstery of soft material, 11, for example elastic polyurethane foam (foam rubber) having predetermined characteristics, inserted in a flabby covering, 12, for example fabric, synthetic or natural leather, and the like.

[0027] For simplicity of representation, in the figures the upholstery 11 is not shown. In a preferential way, the degree of filling of the flabby covering 12 is such that the cushion element 10 is as a whole very deformable and yieldable and elastic properties of the upholstery 11 are not such as to restore a preferential configuration in the absence of external strain, whereby the cushion element 10 assumes deformed configurations even in the presence of relatively small external stresses (such as for example a person's body weight) and tends to keep them in the absence of additional external stresses.

[0028] The cushion element 10 has two main sides: a front side, 16, and a rear side, 15, opposite to each other and perimetral joined by connection sides, 41, 42, 43, 44. In the embodiment depicted the main sides 15,16 are rectangular and the connection sides include seams, 18.

[0029] Inside the cushion element 10, immersed in the upholstery 11, it is housed an elongated fixed frame 20, for example a metallic tubular member, disposed to lie in a plane parallel to the main sides 15 and 16. In particular, in the rectangular shaped cushion element shown, the fixed frame extends horizontally parallel to two connection sides, 41, 42 and at an intermediate height of the remaining two connection sides, 43, 44, so as to identify in said cushion element 10 a lower section, 13, placed below the fixed frame 20 and an upper section, 14, above the fixed frame 20. Advantageously, the lower section 13 does not include elements of the frame and its conformation is therefore dictated solely by the deformability of the upholstery 11 and the flabby covering 12. Alternatively, the lower section 13 may comprise frame elements integral to the fixed frame (20), made of the same rigid material or flexible materials, such as plates of plastic or metallic material or the like.

[0030] Within the same cushion element 10, immersed in the upholstery 11, are housed, in addition, at least two movable frames 25A, 25B, for example symmetrically disposed, located at the upper section 14, with each of said movable frames 25A, 25B hinged, independently from the remainder, to the fixed frame 20, according to at least one hinge axis.

[0031] In the embodiment shown, each of said movable frames 25A, 25B is located in proximity of a relative connection side 43, 44 and is constituted by a tubular section that, following a three-dimensional trajectory form a substantially two-dimensional structure extending within a portion of the upper section 14 mainly towards the top connection side, 41. Each of said movable frames 25A, 25B is hinged according to a horizontal hinge axis X, coincident with the hinge axis of the remainder movable frame 25A, 25B, which in the embodiment shown corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the fixed frame 20. Each of the movable frames 25A, 25B identifies an upper section portion 14A, 14B that follows its swinging movements.

[0032] Each of said movable frames 25A, 25B can swing, independently of the other and preferably in a continuous mode (not in discrete steps) around its hinge axis X.

[0033] The cushion 1 of the invention also comprises connecting members, 30, constituted by elongated rigid elements integral with the fixed frame 20 and configured to extend not parallel to the main sides 15, 16 so as to protrude outwards the cushion element 10 by passing through one or more aligned passage holes provided in the flabby covering 12 and it extends of a determined amount from the rear side 15. In the embodiment shown, the connecting members 30 are constituted by a single straight bar element of constant circular cross-section which departs from a longitudinally intermediate section of the fixed frame and extends in a direction orthogonal to the rear side 15 from which it protrudes. The connecting members 30 protrude from the rear side 15 of the cushion element 10 at a passage aperture, 21, of the flabby covering 12 provided in correspondence of a central area of the rear side 15 itself, and the bar element is provided with a coupling portion with an external structure such as to allow its rotation around its axis (Y).

[0034] Advantageously, as shown in FIG. 8, the connecting members 30 are associated with the fixed frame 20 in a removable mode. The fixed frame 20 includes couplings members 26, integral with the fixed frame 20 for associating the connecting members 30 and arranged to be completely housed within the cushion element 10 but in communication with the passage aperture 21 of the flabby covering 12. The connecting members 30 comprise corresponding coupling members, 31. In the embodiment of FIG. 8 the coupling members 26 and 31 are threaded members. Obviously, other types of coupling members, in particular quick-coupling members, can be envisaged.

[0035] Moreover, the flabby covering 12 provides elongated openings, 22, 23 that can be kept closed by means of zippers, Velcro joints or the like, to allow the removal of the flabby covering 12, for example to allow its cleaning or replacement. The elongated openings 22, 23 are arranged in the rear side 15 in such a way as to affect the passage apertures 21 of the connecting members 30. In this way the elongated openings 22, 23 intended for removal of the flabby covering 12 remain hidden in the normal use of the pillow 1 during which the rear side 15 is normally not visible because in contact with a furniture where the cushion is associated, and also the elongated openings 22, 23 themselves determine the passage apertures 21 of the connecting members 30 without having to provide specific holes or openings in the flabby covering 12.

[0036] In alternate embodiments, the connecting members 30 are integral to the flabby covering 12 instead of, or in addition to, being integral to the fixed frame 20 and they are constituted by seams, buttons or slots for buttons, snap buttons, zippers, or other similar means of connection. Solutions of this kind allow to avoid openings in correspondence of the flabby covering 12 to pass through the rigid elongated elements of the depicted embodiment, so as to simplify and thereby reduce the costs of the connecting members 30 themselves as well as of the corresponding housing or connection means which must be provided in the upholstered furniture where the cushion 1 of the invention can be associated.

[0037] In FIG. 1 the cushion 1 is represented in a neutral configuration, N, in which the connecting members 30 extend horizontally in a direction orthogonal to the fixed frame, also disposed horizontally, while the movable frame 25A and 25B extend upward, perpendicular to the connecting members 30. As can be observed in FIG. 1, in this configuration the cushion element 10 is in a unstressed or non-deformed configuration in which the lower section 13 extends downwards with respect to the fixed frame 20 subject to its own weight, while the upper section 14 extends upwards and is maintained in such position by the upward directed orientation of the movable frames 25A and 25B. A configuration like that of FIG. 1 may result from the association of the cushion 1 with an external structure having a suitably arranged housing means, for example a hole with a horizontal axis in a vertical wall.

[0038] In FIGS. 2a to 2d the cushion of the invention is shown in a particularly advantageous embodiment in which it is associated with an upholstered furniture, 100, comprising at least a support plane, 110, substantially horizontal and at least one vertically extending wall, 120, extended upwards with respect to said support plane 110. The vertically extending wall 120 includes housing means, 130, for housing the connecting members 30 of the cushion 1 provided in correspondence with an upwards oriented surface, 121, of the vertically extending wall 120. The housing means 130 extend inside of the vertically extending wall 120 for receiving said connecting members 30 of the cushion as a result of a substantially vertical sliding movement from top to bottom of the latter. More specifically, with reference to the detail view of FIG. 3, the upward oriented surface 121 is the top surface of the armrest of a sofa. In the above upward oriented surface 121 there is an inlet opening, 124, in which a bushing, 131, oriented with vertical axis and made integral to a frame, 122, of the vertically extending wall 120, so that the connecting members 30 of the cushion 1 can be inserted in the housing means 130 so as to remain coupled rotatable with respect to their axis, Y, and sliding with respect to it.

[0039] By way of example in FIGS. 2a to 2d are shown only four different configurations that the cushion 1, and then the sofa 100 to which it is associated, can assume. In FIG. 2a the relative orientation between the connecting members 30 and the movable frames 25A, 25B of the cushion 1 is the same as shown in FIG. 1 and yet, since the connecting members 30 are bound with the relative vertical Y axis the movable frames 25A, 25B extend in a substantially horizontal direction while maintaining substantially horizontal also the upper section 14 of the cushion 1. The lower section 13, not supported by an internal frame, subject to its own weight tends to recline on the inward directed surface 123, of the vertically extending wall 120. In this way, the lower section 13 of the cushion 1 acts as a soft upholstered coating of the inward directed surface 123 of the vertically extending wall 120 while the upper portion 14 constitutes an upholstered horizontal supporting plane. In FIGS. 2b, 2c and 2d, the position and thus the function of the lower section 13 does not change. In FIG. 2b the movable frames 25A, 25B are rotated upward at an angle of approximately 45 relative to an horizontal direction so that the upper section 14 is also inclined so as to provide a soft support plane angled of about 45 with respect to the horizontal direction. In FIG. 2c the movable frames 25A, 25B are rotated upward to extend in a substantially vertical direction so that the upper section 14 extends vertically to provide a soft support plane that may for example be a cervical support. In FIG. 2d the two movable frame 25A, 25B are oriented at different angles from each other with the movable frame 25A substantially oriented as in FIG. 2b and the movable frame 25B substantially oriented as in FIG. 2c, so that the top section 14 takes a twisted conformation in which the upper section portion 14A relative to the movable frame 25A is inclined at approximately 45 while the upper section portion 14B relative to the movable frame 25B is substantially vertical. The fact that the two movable frames 25A, 25B are spaced apart in the direction of the fixed frame extension 20, and the fact that the cushion's upholstery material has limited elastic properties and a rather low degree of filling, allow the cushion to take and maintain the twisted shape with a central portion of the upper section 14 which constitutes a connecting portion between the two upper section portions 14A, 14B relative to the movable frames 25A, 25B, respectively.

[0040] To the hinge axis X of the movable frames 25A, 25B, are associated respective movement control means 50, for example friction means, intended to restrain or permit the swinging movement of the movable frames 25A, 25B, calibrated so as to stably maintain each set position of the aforesaid movable frames 25A, 25B for stresses less than a certain predetermined amount.

[0041] In particular, the calibration of said movement control means 50 is such as to keep fixed in each set position said movable frames 25A, 25B at least when subjected to the action deriving from the weight of the body leaning on the said upper section 14, however without the need of an excessive effort for manually changing their orientation.

[0042] As can be imagined from the above description, a cushion according to the invention is particularly indicated in association with upholstered furniture, as it is adapted to define an upholstered support plane of an armrest or backrest, in the case of sofas or armchairs, or of a headboard in the case of bed. Indeed, in such applications the lower section 13 leans against a substantially vertical wall 120 constituting a soft element of support of the kidneys or, more generally, of the lower part of the torso, while the structure of the upper section 14 may be adapted to will be necessary for a soft support for the arm, or support for the shoulders and head with desired orientation. Moreover, thanks to the way it can be associated with the furniture 100, which provides a coupling with degrees of freedom of rotation and sliding with respect to the Y axis of the connecting members 30, the versatility of the cushion 1 and furniture 100 that includes it is still increased since the height of the cushion with respect to the backrest can be regulated and it can be adjusted also the angular orientation.

[0043] The versatility of upholstered furniture 100 according to the invention is even greater by providing a plurality of housing means 130 that can accept simultaneously a plurality of cushions according to the invention or which allow to move the same in multiple different areas of the upholstered furniture 100 itself.

[0044] In the schematic FIGS. 4 to 7, are shown in a purely illustrative, and not limitative example, some upholstered furniture according to the invention. In FIGS. 4a, 4b is shown a sofa, 100a, which provides side walls and a rear wall. On the top of each of the side walls is a housing means, 130, while on the top of the rear wall are aligned, equidistant between them, three housing means 130. For each of the side walls it can be associated a cushion 1 with the prevailing function of armrest, while the rear wall can be associated with a cushion 1 as a function of backrests in one of three positions provided by housing means 130, or may be associated with two cushions leaving not used only the central housing means 130. In FIGS. 5a, 5b is shown a sofa, 100b, which only provides a rear wall 120 while it has no side wall. The rear wall 120 includes at its top a plurality of housing means 130 disposed aligned and equidistant, so that one or more cushions 1 can be housed in the positions defined by the housing means 130. In FIGS. 6a, 6b is shown an armchair, 100c, which provides a side wall 120 and a rear wall 120. Each of the two walls presents on its top a housing means 130 so that a cushion 1 can be inserted in each of them. Both the cushions 1 can indifferently be an armrest or backrest in dependence of the fact that the configuration of FIG. 2a is given to it, or the configuration of FIG. 2c, respectively. Both cushions could also be arranged symmetrically according to the FIG. 2d configuration to form a cervical support in the junction area of the two walls. In FIG. 7 is shown a bed, 100d, whose headboard 120 has at the top a plurality of housing means 130 aligned and equidistant, so that one or more cushions 1 can be housed in the positions defined by the housing means 130.

[0045] Obviously, a number of additional configurations are possible other than those described purely by way of example, allowed not only by the number of configurations which can take the cushion 1, but also by the number and layout of the housing means 130 as well as by the coupling means which provide degrees of freedom of sliding and rotation of the connecting means 30.

[0046] Furthermore, the features and the advantages highlighted above remain safe even in presence of modifications and variants to the cushion according to the invention as described above.

[0047] For example, the number and the shape of the movable frames 25A, 25B may vary. For example, in the case that the cushion is of greater longitudinal dimensions may be provided a further central movable frame in addition to two side movable frames 25A, 25B. Similarly, in the case of lower longitudinal size of the cushion or in the case that you want to give up part of flexibility of use of a cushion according to the invention, the cushion may comprise a single movable frame 25A or 25B arranged to affect the whole upper section 14 or only a portion 14A or 14B of it.

[0048] Furthermore, the fixed frame 20, in addition to having a more complex shape, may be located proximate to the lower side 42 of the cushion element 10, to the point that the lower section 13 may not be present.

[0049] In addition, it is important to point out that the connection means may be structured differently. For example, an embodiment provides two parallel bars as conventionally done in headrests. In this case, it gives up, to some extent, the versatility to increase stability. Still relatively to the connecting members 30, these could include engagement/release means suitable to allow a more stable coupling system with the housing means 130.

[0050] The cushion element 10 as a whole could have a shape also very different from the rectangular one shown, to adapt it to specific aesthetic or technical requirements of the furniture that the cushion must be associated.

[0051] These and further variants and modifications may be envisaged, and it is intended, however, that what described above is to be intended as not limiting example, therefore possible variants of detail that may be necessary for technical and/or functional reasons, are considered as of now included in the same protective scope defined by the annexed claims.