GB2279245A

GB2279245A - Convertible bed/seat assemblies

Info

Publication number: GB2279245A
Application number: GB9407127A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Leslie Calve Trevelyan
Original assignee: AUTO SLEEPERS Ltd
Current assignee: AUTO SLEEPERS Ltd
Priority date: 1993-04-17
Filing date: 1994-04-11
Publication date: 1995-01-04
Anticipated expiration: 2014-04-11
Also published as: GB2279245B; GB9307974D0; GB9407127D0

Abstract

A convertible bed/seat assembly, primarily for camper vans, has a base (1) which is the foundation for a forwardly or backwardly facing seat. It can be shifted sideways, (A) between a position hard up against the van wall and a position away from that wall, where it is more comfortable to sit upon. A pull-out structure (6, 14) is drawn out from the base (1) (B) to convert the seat to a bed, the seats backrest becoming part of the bed. <IMAGE>

Description

"Improvements relating to Convertible Bed/Seat Assemblies" This invention relates to convertible bed/seat assemblies and is particularly aimed at those which are installed in camper vans.

In such vans, space is at a premium. The floor area is restricted, and to compound this there is a general tendency for the side walls to curve in towards the roof.

A seat positioned hard up against such a side wall, and facing forwards or backwards, is therefore awkward to sit on, at least for an adult. He or she would have to lean inwards. While the seat could theoretically be fixed further inboard, this will reduce the gangway space, and there are proposals for a new European standard requiring a minimum 500mm gangway width.

It is the aim of this invention to provide a solution to this problem, while also offering conversion of a seat to a bed or bench.

According to the present invention there is provided a convertible bed/seat assembly comprising a base which provides the seat or a substantial part thereof, and a pull-out structure which can be closed up to the base for the seat mode and which, when pulled out from said base in a lengthwise direction converts the seat into a bed with a backrest for the seat forming part of the bed, the base being movable with said pull-out structure in a direction transverse to the length of the bed.

Preferably, to meet the length requirements of a bed, the pull-out structure comprises two sections which are slidable mutually and with respect to the base in the pullout direction. Each section is approximately one third the length of the bed. There will generally be stops to limit the extent of pull-out, and catch means positively to retain the pull-out structure close to the base.

In the seat mode, when the structure has been shifted in the transverse direction (away from the inside of the wall of the van, for example) it may be made more comfortable by a slight lengthening in the pull-out direction, when the backrest which was previously held upright is thereby shifted to a slight slanting back attitude. The catch means may therefore have two conditions of engagement, one with the pull-out structure closed up fully to the base, the backrest then being upright, and the other with the pull-out structure partially pulled out, the backrest then being aslant.

Conveniently, the base will be held to the floor by means which guide and limit its transverse movement.

These means may include at least one elongate member telescoped through a tube fixed to the floor. Where there is more than one such member and tube, they will of course be parallel.

For a better understanding of the invention, one embodiment will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from above of the framework of a convertible bed/seat assembly when extended, Figure 2 shows plan views of the assembly when stowed and at different stages of extension, and Figure 3 shows the assembly in three different modes, complete with cushioning.

The assembly has a main frame 1 substantially of cubic form. This will be concealed by panels, but these are not shown for clarity and ease of understanding the drawings. Across the bottom of this frame, in what will be called the transverse direction, there extend parallel bars 2 telescoped through tubes 3 fixed to the floor by straps 4.

The tubes 3 are shorter than the bars 2 and so the frame 1 has limited freedom of movement in the transverse direction, as indicated by the arrow A. The forward direction is indicated by the arrow B.

At the top of the frame 1, the members 5 which extend in the fore and aft direction, and which are secured on top of a fixed lid (not shown) of the frame 1, serve as retaining means and guides for a substantially square horizontal frame 6. The fore and aft members 7 of this frame 6 provide inwardly facing channels, and they also each have an outwardly extending flange 8 which is trapped but slidable under the inside edge portion of the respective member 5. In the transverse direction, the frame 6 has a rear member 9 which remains confined within the compass of the base frame 1 and acts as a stop in the fully extended position shown in Figures 1 and 2(c) by engaging against a pin 10 upstanding from the fixed lid. This pin has another function as described below.At its forward end, the frame 6 has a cross member 11 fixed below the flanges 8, and on top of this member 11 there is an abutment 12, fixed off centre. Below the member 11 there are legs 13 set slightly in from the sides of the frame 6.

A third and slightly smaller frame 14, also substantially square, is horizontally guided by the second frame 6, its fore and aft members 15 sliding within the channels of the members 7. Its rear transverse member 16 will, at full extension as shown in Figures 1 and 2(c), come up against the abutment 12, and in its underside there is a cut-out portion 17 to permit this as described below. The frame 14 has legs 18, spaced apart the same distance as the legs 13, to support it below its forward transverse member 19. A catch 20, pointing rearwardly, is pivoted below the centre of the memmber 19 and can be used to hold the assembly in the fully stowed position. For that, it is swung as shown in Figure 2(a) to hook around the pin 10, and it may be spring-biased to do so automatically.But it can also hold the assembly in a partially extended position as shown in Figure 2(b), when it hooks around another pin 21 upstanding from the fixed lid of the frame 1 nearer the front. The central position of the catch ensures that it does not interfere with the off-centre abutment 12.

Referring to Figure 3, the fully stowed position is shown at (a). There is a vertical backrest cushion 22 and a seat cushion 23 which lies horizontally on the telescoped frames. Both cushions 22 and 23 will be backed by rigid panels, and initially the cushion 23 will rest against a transverse wall or bulkhead (not shown). To make this comfortable to sit on, the frame 1, and hence all the other components, is pulled sideways -in the direction of the arrow A until clear of the side wall of the van (not shown).

Then the catch 20 is released from the pin 10 and the frame 14 is pulled out a short distance in the direction of arrow B as shown in Figure 3(b), where it is re-secured by the catch 20 engaging the pin 21. This shifts the seat cushion 23 with it, and inclines the backrest cushion 22.

To convert to a bed, the catch 20 is again released and the frames 6 and 14 pulled further out to extend fully as shown in Figure 3(c). The cut out portion 17 is aligned with the pins 10 and 21 and allows the transverse member 16 to pass freely over them. The cushions are augmented by a third one 24 which may otherwise be kept temporarily stowed within the frame 1, one of the unseen panels conveniently being a door to provide access.

This extension to a bed may be carried out without the initial transverse movement. When used in that mode, the inward slope of the side wall of the van does not matter, and the bed can be hard up against the wall.

However, it can be moved out if preferred, and if there is a corresponding assembly on the opposite side of the van, they can both be converted into beds and either used singly, brought together as a relatively narrow double bed, or joined by intermediate planks and cushions to form a wider double bed, possibly extending the whole width of the van.

It will be understood that the same arrangement can apply to a rearward facing seat.

Claims

1. A convertible bed/seat assembly comprising a base which provides the seat or a substantial part thereof, and a pull-out structure which can be closed up to the base for the seat mode and which, when pulled out from said base in a lengthwise direction, converts the seat into a bed with a backrest for the seat forming part of the bed, the base being movable with said pull-out structure in a direction transverse to the length of the bed.

2. A convertible bed/seat assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the pull-out structure comprises two sections which are slidable mutually and with respect to the base in the pull-out direction.

3. A convertible bed/seat assembly a-. claimed in Claim 2, wherein each section is approximately one-third the length of the bed.

4. A convertible bed/seat assembly as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein there are stops to limit the extent of pull-out.

5. A convertible bed/seat assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein there are catch means positively to retain the pull-out structure close to the base.

6. A convertible bed/seat assembly as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the catch means have two conditions of engagement, one with the pull-out structure closed up fully to the base, the backrest then being upright, and the other with the pull-out structure partially pulled out, the backrest then being aslant.

7. A convertible bed/seat assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the base is held to the floor by means which guide and limit its transverse movement.

8. A convertible bed/seat assembly substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.