GB2076280A - Divan bed - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention modifies the storage divan bed conventionally provided with drawers set in the base thereof in order to utilise space for storage that would otherwise be wasted, by forming a support surface for articles within the space that would normally be provided as a drawer space, and closing the space at the exterior of the divan with an integral flap (21); the flap and adjacent parts of the divan providing means (23) for releasably fastening the flap in its closed position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Divan bed The present invention relates to a divan bed.

It is known to produce divan beds with drawers set in the base thereof in order to utilise space for storage that would otherwise be wasted.

The use of drawers, however, does give rise to some disadvantage, namely, they are costly to produce, they are easily damaged in transit and they require floor area to be left clear adjacent the drawer space to permit the drawer to be pulled out.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate the disadvantage of conventional storage divan beds.

The present invention seeks to achieve this object by forming a support surface for articles within the space that would normally be provided as a drawer space, and closing the space at the exterior of the divan with an integral flap; the flap and adjacent parts of the divan providing means for releasably fastening the flap in its closed position.

The support surface may be provided by a bottom wall of a box structure having a side or each of two opposite sides open to provide access thereinto from the exterior of the divan.

The access to a support surface may be from a lateral side of the bed and/or from what is in use of the divan the end side at the foot of the bed. The available space may be arranged to contain two support surfaces arranged side by side in the length of the bed so that one support surface lies between the head end of the bed and the transverse centre line thereof and the other lies between the foot end of the bed and that centre line thereof, with access to each support surface being provided from one or each lateral side of the bed or, alternatively with access to the one support surface from one or each lateral side of the bed and access to the other support surface from said end side of the bed.

The or each flap may be formed of a fabric panel the top edges of which is stitched or otherwise fastened to the divan covering material, preferably in the join normally made between the side covering panel and the top covering panel of the bed. The fabric panel may consist of the same material as the divan covering itself although a contrasting material or colour may be used.

Various fasteners may be used releasably to fasten the flap in place. The fasteners each consist of two parts with one part or set of parts of the fasteners to be employed being secured to the margin of the inner face of a flap, and the other part or set of parts to a facing surface of the divan covering bordering the access the flap is used to cover. A convenient form of fastener consists of strips of Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) material; although press studs or zips may be used.

The box structure may be formed of any suitably rigid material, but it is presently preferred to use hardboard; and the hard board is preferably faced on the inner surface of the box structure with a suitable plastics material, e.g. melamine.

In using a fastener such as Velcro, there may be advantage in stiffening a fabric flap in order to prevent puckering or rucking of the flap due to incorrect positioning of the flap when fastening it in a closed position.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which the sole Figure is a perspective view of a divan bed according to the present invention.

Referring to the drawing, the divan, generally indicated at 1, comprises a framework support structure (not shown) delineating an aperture 3 at each side of the bed between the end at the head of the bed and the transverse centre line thereof, giving access to a space in which conventionally with a storage divan, drawers are supported. In this instance, however, the space is used to house a box structure 5 providing a rigid support surface 7 on which articles such as bedding may be supported. The box structure is open at each of two opposite ends and is supported by the framework so that each open end is positioned at a respective one of the apertures formed by the framework; the cross-sectional dimensions of the box interior being the same as those of the aperture.

The divan, which is set up on runners or casters (not shown) has a fabric covering 11 comprising a top panel 1 3 and side panels 15; the latter being joined at their upper edges to the edges of the top panel in a conventional manner. At the location of each aperture, a flap 21 to cover the aperture and consisting of the same fabric as that of the divan covering, is also fastened at its upper edge in the conventional join; the flap being of sufficient dimensions to be able to extend at its bottom edge under the bottom edge of the divan framework and at its side edges to overlap the margins of the divan side panel flanking the aperture.Those margins of the side panel and the underside of the bottom edge of the divan framework have secured thereto lengths of one of the components strips of Velcro material while oppositely facing parts of the inner surface of the flap bear corresponding lengths of the other of the component Velcro strips. By this means, each flap can be held firmly in place without rucking to give the appearance of being part of the side panel of the divan covering.

A like arrangement with a further box structure may also be provided in the portion of the divan interior space between the transverse centre line and the end of the bed at the fdot thereof or, alternatively the additional box structure may be arranged, as indicated in outline at 31, to open at that end of the bed with the flap 33 therefor positioned accord ingly.

The box structure, in this instance, was formed of hardboard panels faced on the interior of the box with melamine. Any suit able rigid material may be used, however; and the Velcro material may be replaced by press studs or one or more zips.

Claims (14)

1. A divan bed comprising a support surface for articles disposed within the interior space of the divan with access thereto being provided from the exterior at a side of the divan, and a flap integral with the side of the divan to close the access; the flap and adjacent parts of the divan providing means for releasably fastening the flap in its closed position.

2. A divan bed according to claim 1, wherein the support surface is provided at a bottom wall of a box structure having a side or each of two opposite sides open to provide said access thereinto from the exterior of the divan.

3. A divan bed according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the access to the support surface is from a lateral side of the divan and/or from what is in use of the divan the end side at the foot of the divan.

4. A divan according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the available space is arranged to contain two of the support surfaces, the support surfaces being arranged side by side in the length of the divan so that one support surface lies between the head end of the divan and the transverse centre line thereof and the other lies between the foot end of the divan and that centre line thereof, with access to each support surface being provided from one or each lateral side of the divan or, alternatively, with access to the one support surface from one or each lateral side of the divan and access to the other support surface from said end side of the divan.

5. A divan bed according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the or each flap is formed of a fabric panel the top edge of which is secured to the divan covering mate nal

6. A divan bed according to claim 5, wherein the top endge of the or each panel is secured in the join normally made between the side covering panel and the top covering panel of the divan.

7. A divan bed according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the fabric panel consists of the same fabric of the same colour as that of the material of the divan covering.

8. A divan bed according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the fabric panel consists of a material of a different fabric or colour from that of the material of the divan covering.

9. A divan bed according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fastening means comprises fasteners each of which consists of two parts, with one part or set thereof being secured to the margin of the inner face of a flap, and the other part or set thereof to a facing surface of the divan covering bordering the access the flap is used to cover.

10. A divan bed according to claim 9, wherein each fastener consists of strips of Velcro material.

11. A divan bed according to claim 9, wherein each fastener consists of a press stud or a zip.

1 2. A divan bed according to claim 2 or any of the preceding claims 3 to 11 as dependent thereon, wherein the box structure is formed of hardboard.

1 3. A divan bed according to claim 1 2, wherein the hardboard is faced on the inner surface of the box structure with a plastics material.

14. A divan bed according to claim 13, wherein the plastics material is melamine.

1 5. A divan bed according to claim 11 or any of preceding claims 12 to 14 as dependent thereon, wherein the or each flap is stiffened in order to prevent puckering or rucking thereof due to incorrect positioning when fastening it is in a closed position.

1 6. A divan bed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.