US1842248A - Davenport bed - Google Patents

Description

Jail 19, 1932- R. cooPERsMlTH 1,842,248

DAVENPORT BED Filed Dec. 11, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l 'TTA/EX Jan. 19, 1932. R. cooPERsMlTH DAVENPORT BED Filed Dec. l1, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Jan- 19, 1932- R. cooPERsMlTH 1,842,248

DAVENPORT BED Filed Deo. 11, 1929 '5 Sheets-Sheet` 3 INVENTOR I ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 19, 1932 NFerarri olf-'rice BUDLPI-ICOOPERSMITH, 0F ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI DAVENPORT Brin Application iled December 11, `1929. Serial No. 413,175.

This invention relates to improvements in collapsible beds that may be opened or exl tended to form a full size bed or that may Y be closed or collapsed to forma davenport, couch, or equivalent elongated article of furniture for seating or loungingpurposes.

In prior davenport beds in which a pair of bed-bottoms or frames were superposed in the frame or box of the davenport when closed, and in which the upper bottom was lifted out over thefront of the box and set down on the floor in front of the davenport frame while the lower bottom was raised to the levelof the opened upper bottom, an objectionable feature was that only a very thin mattress, not more thanone and one-half inchesin thiclmess (known-as an eighteen pound mattress), could be accommodated in thebed without `its intercepting or interfering with parts of the bed or mechanism durt ing the openingor closing movements. r`lhin mattresses are unduly hard and uncomfortable, and haveto be covered with thickblan- `kets to` soften the bed. Y

- Accordingly, the principal aim of the'present invention is the provision of a bed of this character whose opening and closing movements are such that they will not be obstruct` ed if a regulation bed mattress, such as a Hthirty-flvepound mattress (about three and Other objects, advantages and desirable features of the invention, chiefly more or less ancillary to the foregoing, will appear in the course of the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the spirit thereof.

rlhe illustrative embodiment of the invention preferably, though not necessarily in all of its aspects, includes some features of 1mprovement in bed davenports that have been disclosed and claimed in the present inventors prior application for United States patent for bed davenport, Serial 378,860, filed July 17, 1929. Brieiy described, the illustrative embodiment of the present invention comprises upper and lower bed-bottom sections as is usual in beds of this character; but the present invention contemplates, in the closing ofthe bed, that the lower bed-bottom one-half inches thick), at least, is used therep lsection or frame shall be lowered, with the mattress folded thereon, prior to the lifting Y of the upper bottomframe from its position on the floor outside of the davenport frame, in contradistinction to the closing movement of prior beds, in which the upper bottom frame was lifted without a preliminary lowering of the lower bottom frame and was thereby shifted in such close proximity to the lower bottom frame as to preclude the use of a mattress thereon of ordinary weight or thickness thereon. The preliminary descent cf the lower frame of the present invention produces more clearance for the passage thereover of the upper bottoni frame, where- 65 by a heavier mattress may be used without its interfering withthe closing movement of the upper bottom frame. The invention, also, resides in the provisionof means whereby the preliminary descent of the lower bed-bottom frameA will be accomplished automatically by the act of folding the mattress.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which like nurnbers of reference denote like parts wherever they occur,

Figure l is a plan view of the bed extended or open, the davenport frame being shown in horizontal section and other parts being broken away;

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same, showing fragments of the davenport frame to exhibit the connection of the bed-bottoms i and mechanism with the said frame;`

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the mat- 85 tress folded and partly lowered, but with the upper bottom frame still on the floor outside of the davenport frame, parts being` broken away to reveal other parts concealed thereby;` and .showing an intermediate position of the mattress-folding mechanism in brokenand-dotted lines; Y

Y Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view exhibiting the means for securing the mattress to the mattress-folding mechanism;

Figure 5 is an elevation of the end of the bed shown in Figures 2 and 3 showingthe completely closed position of thebed in full lines, and an intermediate position of the upper bottom frame in broken-and-dotted lines;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary transverse sectional View taken on the line 6 6 in Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 7-7 in Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary enlargement view showing details of the catch and assom ciated parts for securing the bed-bottom supports in the davenport frame.

The illustrative embodiment of the invention comprises a davenport skeleton or-outer frame 1, ordinarily formed. of. wood in the 15 conventional manner, that supports 'and gives form to the upholstering material with which it is covered` a base frame 2 supported in the davenport frame 1 so as to be bodily removable therefrom, a bed-bottom formed tvo'f a pair of sections 3 and 4, movable supports -5 in which the rear bed-bottom section or frame 3 is supported so as to be shiftable vertically with relation thereto, mechanism for simultaneously folding the mattress and aeflowering the rear or lower bed-bottom frame 3 relatively to the movable supports 5 that support the latter, and mechanism connecting the frame 5 and the upper or front bedbottom section or frame 4 whereby the sec- :zn'etions 3 and 4 may be` superposed in the frame 1 or extended in side-by-side relation to form a full-size open bed. The said frames 2, 3, 4, the supports 5 and the said mechanisms are preferably formed chiefly of angle iron asia-nd flat bar iron sections riveted or otherwise rigidly and suitably secured together.

The base frame 2 comprises rear corner angle uprights 6, front corner angle uprights 7, a rear angle beam 8 connecting the lower 4o rends-of the rear uprights 6, flat bar beams 9 at respective ends of the davenport and connecting the upper ends of the front and rear uprights thereat, bars 10 depending from intermediate portions of the beams 9, respecfwtively, and corner braces 11 obliquely disposed in a vertical plane so as to subtend the corners between the angle beam 8 and the rear uprights 6 and having their opposite ends secured to the beam 8 and the adjacent upr`right respectively. rlhe front internal corners of the davenport frame 1 are lined with upright. angle bars 12, suitably secured to the frame 1 as by screws or bolts 13, as shown in Figure 6, and havingl riveted or otherwise 55 suitably attached thereto in the lower end of the front flanges 14 of said bars 12, the studs 15 projecting interiorly from said flanges and being preferably provided with heads 16 on their outer ends. rPhe front fianges 17 of the "l0 Vuprights? are provided with notches 18 eX- tending upwardly from their lower ends, said notches being adapted for receiving said studs 15. The rear portions of the beams 9 are bowed outwardly at 19 to engage the Gr' outer frame 1 thereat, said engaging por.-

tions 19 being provided with notches 20, eX- tending upwardly from their lower edges and adapted to receive screws 21 that project interiorly from the frame 1 thereat. rlhe base frame 2 is locked to the outer frame 1 by catches 22 that are pivoted at 23 to the inner sides of the bars 9 so that they may be swung. intopositon for closing the lower ends of the notches 2O to lock the frames together, as shown in Figure 2, or into position foropening the-lowerendsof the notches 20, as shown in Figure 8, thereby allowing base frame 2 to be lifted up out of outer or davenportL frame 1. he catches 22 are preferably in the form of depending plates having notches 24 in `one side .thereof to receive the screws 21. The inner ends of screws 21 are preferably provided with wing nuts 25 that may be turned to clamp the catches 22 in locking or securing positions.

The rear bedbottom frame 3'comprises right'and leftangle bars 26 and 27, respectively, rigidly connected together byl rear angle bar 28 and front angle bar 29. rlhe front bed-bottom frame 4 comprises right and left angle bars 30 and 31, respectively, rigidly connected together by rear angle bar 32 and front angle bar 33. Rear angle bar 32 is positioned a slight distance forward of the rear extremity of bars 30 and 31, and the horizontal flanges-34 ofbars'30 and 31 are cut away at their rear extremities -to retract their rear edges 35 to accommodate the frame 3. Rear or lower bed-bottom frame3 is borne by the angle bar supports 5 so as to be vertically shiftable with relation thereto, prefer-V ably by means-of front' links 37- and rear links 38; said front links 37 being pivotedat 39 to the respective angle. bars- 26 and 27, and at 40 to the vertically projectedianges 41 of thefrespective supporting. angle bars 5; and said rear links 38 being pivoted at 42 to the respective angle bars 25 and 26, and at 43 to the flanges 41 of the respective bars 36. Plates 44 are rigidly secured to the anterior portions of the flanges 4l ofthe angle bars 36 and rise upwardly therefrom; and L- shaped arms 45 are'rigidly secured tothe upper ends of platesv44 and rise vertically therefrom and then extend anteriorly a suitable distance. Levers 46, pivoted at 47 to the lower ends of the depending brackets or hangers f 10, comprise.r upwardly extending arms 48, havingtheir upperezrtremities rpivoted atf49 to the rear portions of flanges 41 of angle bars 5,*and dependingarms 50, having their lower extremitiesA pivoted at 51 to one end of'contractile helical springs52, the opposite end of which is pivoted at 53 to the lower end of the uprights 5. L-shaped arms 54 are pivoted at their lower'endsat 55 to the lower portion ofV the lateral fla-nge 56 Aof the respective uprights '7- intermediate ltheir bends and pivotsv 55 by pins 57 aixedthereto and working inzslots 58'in the;plates,44, re

spectively; and` at their other extremities by pins 59"V to the `intermediate portions of the barsy30 and 31, respectively. Depending plates or hangers 60, rigidly secured tothe `anterior portions of the bars 30 and 31, have their lower ends pivoted at 61 to the upper ends of legs 62, ther intermediate portions of which are pivoted at 63 to one extremity of respective links 64. The arms 54 are preferably provided with extensions 65 that incline forwardlyfrom the pivots 59, and the forward extremities `of these extensions 65 are pivoted at 66 to the other extremities of the links 64. The arms 54 are braced together bya rod 67 in juxtaposition to the pivots 55, the ends of the rod being squared as at 68 to fit into square openings in the arms 54, and the extremities 69 of these squared ends being flattened against the outer sides of the arms 54 in rivet-like fashion to make a rigid joint through which torque will be. transmitted to the `rod 67 and therethrough to opposite lever 54, whereby `both levers 54 are compelled to rotate together, as best shownin Figures 6 and 7. Levers 70 are pivoted at 71 to the beams 9 intermediately of the hangers 10 and uprights 7, and the upper extremities of these levers are pivoted at 72 to angles 7 3, rigidly secured to the rear extremities'of` the bars 3U and 31respectively. Helical springs74 and 75 are pivoted at one end at 76 and 77, spectively, tothe bowed portions 19 of the beams 9, and at the other end through the intermediacy of links 78 to the pins or studs 79 and80, respectively, rigidly secured to the arms 70 at points oppositely located from the pivots 71, so that the springs 74 contract while the springs 75 expand, and vice versa. The bars 26, 27, 28, and 29 of the rear frame 3 may, of course, be provided with apertures 81 to receive the cross supporting Wires 82 of a bed spring 83, which may be of any suitable or conventional type. A similar bed spring 84 may be likewise borne by the bars 30, 81, 32, and 33 of the front frame 4. A covering`85 ofthe Vusual type may be placed over the spring 84, the ends being secured4 to wooden blocks 86 and 87 secured to the under-` to the free ends of the horizontal extensionsy 91 of L-shaped` arms 45, Links 92 have their anterior ends pivoted at 93 to the leg portions 94 of the frame 88, and their posterior ends pivoted at 95 to the upper ends of the rising extensions 96 of the links 37. The mattress 89 is formed of two mattresses or front and rear sections 97 and `98, respectively, hinged together by a seam 99 on their upper sides 100, whereby the end faces101 of the two sections at the said seam adjoin one another, and theupper faces form one continuous surface, when the bed is extended as in Figures 1 and 2. The front mattress section 97 is provided on its front end face 102, and side end faces 103, with flaps 104, that are stitched Vand depend preferably from the upper marginal edge 105 of the front section 97. The U-shaped mattressfolding frame 88 extends over the end faces 102, 103, and 103 of the mattress, and is covered and held in place by the flaps 104, whose free edges 106 are secured by means of pairs of tied cords 107 and 108, the cords 107 being affixed to the flaps 104,` and the cords 108 be* ing aiiixed to the lower marginal edge 109 of the front mattress v97.

The construction of the bed having been fully described, its mode of operation will be readily understood. To close the bed from 'the open position exhibited by Figures 1 and 2, the mattress-folding frame 88 is lifted up and then back and then lowered to the position Vshown in Figure 3, thereby folding the front section 97 on `the seam 99 until it rests on' the rear section 98, as shown in ifigure 3. `he folding of the frame 88 automatically effects ,he descent of the rear or lower bed-bottom frame 3 with relation to the then stationary supports 5 for the frame ing such that `the frame 4 is slightly inclined toward the rear during that phase of its movement indicated by broken-and-dotted lines in Figure 5. Illhe counter-clockwise rotation of arms 54 shifts the front of supports 5 and of rear frame 3 to the rear, rather than downwardly, at first, through the intermediation of pins 57, slots 58, and plates 44. By reason of lthe initially rearwardly inclined position of arms 48, however, the backward movement ci' the supports 5 and of the frame 8 is accompanied by the depression of the pivots 49 and the tilting ofthe frame 3 to depress its rear end so that the folded mat tress 89 thereon will clear and pass underneath the bottoni of the davenport back support or cushion 110. it will be observed that the frames 3 and 4 are close together when they are in the open position exhibited 1n Figures 1 and 2, that they are farther apart j when the mattress is Jfolded as shown in Figure 3, and that this horizontal spacing of the frames is increased during the initial portion of the closing movement of frame 4 by reason of the horizontal component of the lifting movement of frame 4 being less than the horizontal component of the simultaneous movementof frame 3. Moreover, at this stage, frame 4 is ascending, while the vertical component of the movement of the front end of frame 3 is practically nil. Each of these characteristics of the movements of the frames 3 and 4 as explained in the aforesaid prior application Serial 378,860, is desirable as tending to prevent interference between the frame 4 and the folded mattress on the frame 3, especially at their points of closest approach, indicated in broken-and-dotted lines in Figure 5. y

The preliminary lowering of the reary frame 3 by the folding of the mattress preparatory to lifting and retracting the front frame 4, however, is a feature of the present invention that spaces the superposed frames 3 and 4 further apart and thereby permits the use of a heavier and more comfortable mattress. As the closing movement continues, rear frame 3 is lowered while front frame 4 is shifted over the front wall 111 of the davenport Vframe 1 and into position in the frame 1l directly over the rear frame 3, until the parts occupy the final closed positions indicated in full lines in Figure 5. ln this position, rear frame 3 is maintained in horizontal position, counter-clockwise tilting being prevented by the engagement of the rear end of the frame 3 with the upper side of the horizontal flange 112 of bar 8 of frame 2, and clockwise tilting` being prevented by reason ofthe engagement of the pins 57 of arms 54 with the slots 58 of plates 44. Frame 4 is, also, maintained horizontally when in closed position by reason of the engagement of arms with the upper ends 113 of hangers 10 simultaneously with the engagement of blocks 87 with the upper face of front wall 111. The slots 58 allow for variation of the distance between the pivots 49 and 57, thereby permitting a more compact arrangement ofthe mechanism with less liability of interference of parts than if the levers or arms 48 'and 54 had to be constrained to movements and positions imposed by the necessity of maintaining unvarying and constant the said distances throughout the cycle of operations. When the bed is open, as in Figures 1 and 2, the engagement of plates 44 with angle bars 6 prevents supports 36 from being shifted too far to the right under the impulsion of springs 52, and angles T3 engage the upper edge of arms 54 to prevent counter-clockwise tilting of frame 4, thereby preventing further clockwise movement of arms 54 when the legs 62 rest on the floor 114. The bed is, therefore, stable in both its open and closed positions, the weight of the front frame bearing on the arms 54 and thereby preventing counter-clockwise rotation of said arms, thereby preventing rearward movement of pivot 57 and, consequently, the descent of the rear bottom frame 3. It will be observed that the interposition ofthe plates 60 between the .legs 62 and bars 30 and 31 enables the pivotV points 61 to be lowered so that shorter legs 62 may be employed and a lower position of the pivot point 63 obtained, thereby allowing the extension arms 65 and the links 64 to be located below the level of the mattress on the'spring 84 when the bedvis open; and, when the bed is being closed, to lift the legs 62 so that ,they cannot interfere with the front-wall 111 of the outerframe 1. Moreover, the legs 62 will straddle the folded mattress 89 when the bed is being closed and while it is in' closed position, the feet 115 of legs 62 passing between arms 54 and links 55, as best shown in Figure 5. It will, also, be observed that the bed .can be easily opened, since both bed-bottom sections 3 and 4 are not lifted up together in the outer frame 1; but, `at the beginning of the opening movement, only upper frame 4 is lifted` while lower frame 3 and supports 5 are being tilted; then, front frame 4 is shifted forwardly over the front wall 111 of the frame 1 and descends to the floor on the outside of the davenport while the rear frame 3 and supports ascend simultaneously, so that the weight of the front frame 4, in descending to open position on the floor counterbalances the weight of the rear frame and supports thatare ascending at the same time. The weight of the rear frame 3and supports 5, moreover, is counterbalanced by the springs 52; and the weight of the front frame 4, when being lifted in its rear positon, is counterbalanced by the force exerted by stretched spring 75, spring 74 being slack, and when being Vlifted in its front position is counterbalanced by the force exerted by the stretched spring 74, spring 75 then being slack. vWhen the bed is closed, the usual cushion may be placed on the covering on the upper spring 84, and the top of the cushion will not be unduly high beca-usey the spring 84 and frame 4 are lower when the bed is closed than they are when it is open. Furthermore, the frames 2, 3, and 4, the supports, and their connecting mechanism may be quickly and bodily removed from the outer davenportv frame 1 by `loosening the wing nuts 24, shifting catches 21 to open the lower ends of notches 19, and thence lifting frame 2 up out of frame 1. Repairs or inspection of the parts or their disconnection from the other parts of the structure may then be made more easily since they are no longer so diiiic'ult of access as theyv might be were it imiossible to remove the frames 2, 3, and 4 from the davenport without first disorganizing theparts. It will be observed that the pockets formed on the end faces 102, 103, and 103 of'the'mattress 97 by the flaps 104 are sufi'ieiently wide to allow ample vertical play of the mattress-folding frame 88 therein, and the arrangement is such that the frame 88 does notV project higher'than the upper face open or folded positions. There are, therefore, no projections that rise above the upper surface of the mattress to interfere and produce discomfort to the occupant of the bed.

Having thus fully described this invention, I hereby reserve the benefit of all changes in form, arrangement, order, or use of parts, as it is evident that many minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of this invention or the scope of the foln lowing claims.

I claim: y l. In a bed of the character described the combination with a supporting frame, a support borne thereby, a rear bed bottom section borne by said support, a front bed botn tom section borne by said frame, means for Vfolding a "mattress over said rear section,

mechanism actuated by said mattress-folding means 'forlowering said rear section and means for swinging said front section over said rear section.

2. In a bed of the character described, the combination, with a pair of bed bottom sections, including means whereby one of the sections is shiftable from one to the other of positions above and at the side of the other section, respectively, of means for lowering said `other section independently of said one section when said sections are side by side, and mechanism whereby said other section is `lowered still further while said one section is being superposed thereon.

3. In a bed of the character described, the combination, with a pair of bed bottom sec* tions, including means whereby one of the sections is shiftable from one to the other of alternative positions above and at the side of the other section, respectively; of means for folding the mattress so that it lies only on said other section and lowering said other section; and mechanism whereby sai-d other section is lowered still further as said one section is shifted into position above said other section.

4. In a bed of the character described, the combination, with front and rear bed bottom sections including means whereby the front section is shiftable `from one to the other of alternative positions above and at the side of the rear section, respectively; of means for lowering the rear section independently of the front section when the sections are side by side, and mechanism whereby the rear section is shifted rearwardly and lowered still further when said front section is shifted rearwardly in superposition to said rear section.

5. In a bed of the character described, the combination of a supporting frame, a support shiftably borne thereby, a rear bed bottom section borne by said support, means for shifting said section vertically of said support, and a front bed bottom section borne by said frame, means for shifting the same from one to the other of alternative positions in front of and above the rear section, respectively, and means whereby said support is shifted rearwardly and downwardly when said frontV section is shifted rearwardly. i

6. In a bed of the character described, a main supporting frame, front and rear bottom frames, a support for the rear bottom frame; arm means pivotally borne by the main supporting frame and pivoted at one point to the front portion of the rear frame support and at another point to a portion of the front frame intermediate of its front and rear, arm means pivotally borne by the main supporting frame and pivoted tothe rear portion of the rear frame support; arm meansl pivotally borne by the main supporting frame and pivoted to the rear portion of the necting the rear frame and its support whereby the rear frame is shiftable vertically rela i tively to said support.

7. In a bed of the character described, a

main supporting frame, front and rear bottom frames, a support for the rear bottom frame, arm means pivotally borne by the main supporting frame and pivoted at one point to the front portion of the rear frame support and at another point to a portion of the front frame intermediate of its front and rear, arm means pivotally borne by the main supporting frame and pivoted to the rear portion of the rear frame support; arm means pivotally borne by the main supporting frame and pivoted to the rear portionof the front frame, arm means pivotally connecting the rear frame and its support whereby the rear frame is shiftable vertically relatively to said support; a mattress-folding frame pivoted to said rear frame support and means associated with said support whereby the rear frame is lowered `relatively to the rear frame support when said mattress-folding frame is folded.

8. In a bed of the character described, the combination with a pair of bed bottom sections including means whereby one of the sections is shiftable from one to the other of positions above and at the side of the other section, respectively, of means for shifting said other section vertically independently of said one section and means for still further vertically shifting said other section as said one section is disposed above said other section.

9. In a bed of the character described, the

combination of a supporting frame, a supsaid. section relatively to said support when ico said maittress-folling means is operatedA to fold the mattress, and means whereby said Ysupport is lowered as said frontseetion is shifted` rearwardly.

In testimony whereof I hereuntoy aHX-my signature.

RUDOLPH COOPER-SMITH.

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