AU2006227585B2

AU2006227585B2 - Seating furniture, which can be converted into in a bed, and cover for the lying surface of an item of furniture of this type

Info

Publication number: AU2006227585B2
Application number: AU2006227585A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ole Wiberg
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-03-21
Filing date: 2006-03-20
Publication date: 2011-07-07
Anticipated expiration: 2026-03-20
Also published as: EP1860978B1; EP1860978A2; BRPI0611548A2; CN101163425B; US20090282611A1; RU2374970C2; AT501592B1; CN101163425A; KR20070120514A; EG24991A; CA2602346A1; WO2006099646A3; JP2008532715A; AU2006227585A1; AT501592A4; RU2007138935A; MX2007011632A; ATE510475T1; WO2006099646A2

Abstract

An item of seating furniture, which can be converted into a bed, is provided with a frame (1) and with at least one trolley (2, 3) that can be stowed inside and retracted from the frame (1). The frame (1) and the chassis (2, 3) comprise, as a support for seating or lying cushions (23, 24, 25), slats (10, 10a, 10b), which are fastened on one side and which extend in the retracting direction of the chassis (2, 3) (the chassis). The slats (10, 10a, 10b) are interspaced in such a manner that the slats of the chassis (10a, 10b) (the chassis) are located between the slats (10) of the frame (1) when the chassis (2, 3) is in a stowed state (the chassis). A cover (26) for an item of furniture of this type comprises a sheet (37) and a soft layer (36) located underneath. The soft layer (36) has an elasticity that resists rolling up so that the layer (36) automatically unrolls over the lying surface after having been rolled up with the sheet (37). This results in an arrangement that is simple and comfortable to use.

Description

1 COVER FOR THE LYING SURFACE OF A PIECE OF FURNITURE The invention relates to a cover for the lying surface of such a piece of furniture. 5 Nowadays, high quality beds have two mattresses, namely a harder one at the bottom and a softer one on the top. The upper mattress is also often called a "comfort mattress". The upper, soft mattress provides support for the body in the sleeping position over a larger area. This combination of hard and soft is regarded by the majority of experts as the ideal solution. 10 For reasons of hygiene, it is usual to cover the lying surface of a bed or a piece of seating furniture which is able to be converted into a piece of lying furniture with a sheet. The furnishing fabric is thereby also protected in convertible seating or so-called couches. is Covering with a sheet is relatively complicated, because it has to be pulled from several sides. Therefore, proposals have already been made to simplify the covering with a sheet. In particular, it has been proposed to roll up the sheet, possibly with an underlayer, on an automatic roller when not in use. Such suggestions have also already been put into practice. 20 It is the object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate one or more of the above disadvantages or to provide a useful alternative. According to a first aspect of the present invention there is disclosed herein a 25 cover for a lying surface of a piece of furniture, the cover comprising a sheet and a soft layer, the soft layer being operatively situated beneath the sheet, the soft layer further being elastically opposed to being rolled up, so that after the soft layer has been rolled up, it will in use cause the cover to automatically unroll over the lying surface. 30 Preferably the cover comprises a fabric fitted sheet opposing the sheet, the fitted sheet being substantially non-elastic in a longitudinal direction. Preferably an end of the cover which is to be rolled out is connected to a rod. 35 Preferably the cover comprises a blanket overlying the sheet.

2 Preferably a lying surface of the soft layer and an operative underside of the soft layer comprise a furnishing fabric. s According to a second aspect of the present invention there is disclosed herein a piece of seating furniture having a backrest, the piece of seating furniture being convertible into a piece of furniture for lying, wherein the piece of seating furniture includes a cover according to the first aspect which is rolled up and arranged behind the backrest . t0 The roll of a cover according to preferred embodiments of the invention is held together for example by a band or suchlike and, after the band is opened, unrolls automatically together with the sheet and lays itself over the lying surface. The sheet may be connected with the soft layer here by a Velcro-type fastening, press studs or similar 15 connecting means which are easy to undo. The soft layer generally consists of two materials, namely a fibre material above and a foam material or rubber or polyether below. 20 Underlayers of foam or suchlike, which unroll automatically, are already known. These underlayers are laid on the ground for example when camping, however they are not connected with a sheet. The covering of a bed with a sheet would therefore not be facilitated by such underlayers. 25 A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of an example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Fig. I is shows in a diagrammatic view a bed or a couch which is provided with a cover according to the invention; Fig. 2 shows a partial view onto a cover roll, a rod being suspended at the end; 30 Fig. 3 shows a partial longitudinal section through the end of such a cover. According to Fig. I a mattress 32 is laid on a bed frame 31. The bed frame 31 is provided with a bedhead 35 - 3 33 which has a cavity 34. This cavity is able to be closed toward the front by a padded cover (not shown). A cover 26, which has a soft layer 36 and a sheet 37, lies on the mattress 32. The sheet 37 is connected with the soft layer 36 by means of a Velcro-type fastening 38. The soft layer 36 consists of a material which is elastic, such that it is able to automatically unroll a roll consisting of a soft layer 36 and a sheet 37. In Fig. 1, such a roll (cover 26) is shown during unrolling, which is shown by the arrow marked in the drawing. Underneath the soft layer 36, a fitted sheet 39 is arranged, which is also rolled in. This fitted sheet 39 consists of a fabric, e.g. a cotton drill, which is substantially non-elastic in the longitudinal direction. The arrangement of such a non-elastic fitted sheet 39 causes the soft layer 36 to be prevented from increasing its extent as a result of its elasticity during rolling and subsequently. The rolling and unrolling of the cover 26 is facilitated by a rod 40 which is connected with the end of the cover 26 which is to be rolled. As can be seen from Fig. 2, this rod 40 is connected with the cover 26 by means of a strip of material 41. In the example embodiment according to Fig. 3, the fitted sheet 39', lying under the soft layer 36, is formed by the sheet 37' wrapped around the soft layer 36. It is also indicated in Fig. 1 that a blanket 42 or an item of bedding lying on the sheet 37 can be rolled -4 into the cover 26. The blanket 42 is only approximately half illustrated here. The entire subsequent roll 26 (layer 36, sheet 37 and blanket or item of bedding 42) consists here of very soft materials. By pressing onto the roll during rolling, and by the rigid rod and the non-elastic outer side, the material is pressed in to less than one third of its original volume. When the seat or the bed and at least the visible part of the roll 26 is covered with furnishing fabric, the roll can be used as a back-rest. In the rolled state, the cover (roll) 26 can be housed in the cavity 34 of a bedhead. In various items of furniture, a panel may be provided, against which the roll 26 is rolled. The roll 26 can then remain held rolled against the panel for example by an arranged Velcro-type strip. The space for the roll 26 behind a backrest normally does not have a round shape. The cavity in the backrest is generally higher than the roll and widens conically downwards. Despite the compression which is achieved as a result of the non-elastic fitted sheet and the rigid rod, the roll is, however, still sufficiently soft to fit into the cavity which is available.

Claims

1. A cover for a lying surface of a piece of furniture, the cover comprising a sheet and a soft layer, the soft layer being operatively situated beneath the sheet, the soft 5 layer further being elastically opposed to being rolled up, so that after the soft layer has been rolled up, it will in use cause the cover to automatically unroll over the lying surface.

2. The cover according to Claim 1, comprising a fabric fitted sheet 1o opposing the sheet, the fitted sheet being substantially non-elastic in a longitudinal direction.

3. The cover according to either Claim I or 2, wherein an end of the cover which is to be rolled out is connected to a rod. 15

4. The cover according to Claim 1, comprising a blanket overlying the sheet.

5. The cover according to any one of Claims I to 4, wherein both a lying 20 surface and an operative underside of the soft layer comprise a furnishing fabric.

6. A piece of seating furniture having a backrest, the piece of seating furniture being convertible into a piece of furniture for lying, wherein the piece of seating furniture includes a cover according to any one of Claims I to 5 which is rolled up and 25 arranged behind the backrest .

7. The piece of seating furniture according to Claim 6, wherein an upright support or a panel is arranged behind the rolled-up cover and a Velcro-type strip is respectively provided between the support or the panel and the rolled up cover. 30 6

8. A cover for a lying surface of a piece of furniture, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 5 Dated 30 May, 2011 Ole Wiberg Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON & FERGUSON