US2238765A - Extensible couch - Google Patents

Description

April 15,1941.

1:.y E. woLLER EXTENSIBLE conca Filed 001'.. 5, 1939 4 ShoetS-Sheet 2 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 l Zw/QRZLOP: fdl/afd Z. /Oe

E. E. WOLLER EXTENSIBLE coUcH Flled Oct 6. 1959 April 15, 1941.

April 15, 1941. E. E. woLLx-:R

EXTENSIBLE COUCH i Filed Oct. 6, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 mw QM. Nw mw uw mw Patented Apr. 15, '1941 EXTENSIBLE COUCH Edward E. Woller, Kenosha, Wis., assgnor to Simmons Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application October 6, 1939, Serial No. 298,227

`11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in extensible couches and has particular reference to extension couches of the type wherein a movable or extensible lcouch section is adapted to be housed under a normally stationary couch section and withdrawn therefrom to operative position alongside ofthe stationary section or entirely independent thereof.

, The main objects of the invention are to provideV an extensible' couch of the character indicated wherein the movable couch section is effectively concealed under the stationary couch section; to provide a structure wherein the movable section may be effectively concealed in connection with a stationary section provided with supporting legs and wherein the lower edges of the sides of the stationary section are disposed in substantially spaced relation from the iioor so as to avoid the massive and heavy appearance of couch structures which have side walls extending downwardly to within one or two inches of the licor; to provide an extensible couch of the `character indicated which may be easily and quietly operated both in respect of closing and opening movements; to provide a structure wherein the stationary and movable sections may be shifted as a unit from one place to another when the movable section is in housed relation to the stationary section and without disturbing such relationship; to provide a structure of 3 the character indicated which may be manufactured economically and at low cost; and in general, it is the object of the invention to provide an improved extensible couch of the type set iorth.

Other objects and advantages of the invention willbe understood by reference `to the following specification and accompanying drawings (4 sheets) wherein there is illustrated an extenmanually engageable means for facilitating movement of the movable couch section, the section being on a plane approximately as indicated by the line 4--4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a rear or inside elevation'of the structure shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a section similar to Figure 4 but showing a changed position of the parts;

Figure '7 is a side elevation of the extensible couch in initially extended position and on a larger scale than Figure 3;

Figure 8 is an end elevation similar to Figure 7 but showing the movable section in operative, extended position;

Figure 9 is a plan of a portion ci' the structure shown in Figure 8;and

Figure 10 isa plan section as indicated by the line Ill-IU of Figure 3,

Referring now to the drawings, the improved extensible couch herein disclosed comprises a normally stationary` main couch section l5 which includes a suitably cushioned or upholstered seat part I6, a back rest Il, end arms I8, I8 and removable seat cushions I9, I9. As best illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the main section includes also a depending side frame 20 of suitable construction, the same extending completely around the stationary section, and legs 2|, 2| which support the stationary section on the oor with the lower edges 22 of the depending side frame spaced upwardly a substantial distance from the floor. The space between the floor and the lower edge 22 of said side frame may be in the vicinity of six inches so as `to produce a couch structure of more or less accepted conventional styling.

The movable couch section may be of any preferred construction and in this instance it is illustrated as comprising a main frame 23 comprising angle iron front and rear side members 24 and 25, respectively, and angle iron end members 26 and 2l. Suitable bed spring fabric typied by the spring-supported wires 28 is stretched between the opposite end members 26 and 21 of the movable section frame,

At each end the movable section is provided with crossed legs 29 and 30 which are pivotally connected intermediate their ends as indicated at 3l. Each of the legs 29 and 30 is equipped at its lower end with a floor-engaging roller 32 and the leg 3l] has its upper end pivoted as indicated at 33 to the adjacent end frame member near Athe front side of the couch section. The rear or upper end of the leg 29 is pivotally connected as indicated at 34 to an arm 35 which has one of its ends pivoted as indicated at 36 to the adjacent end frame member near the rear side of the section. The other end of the arm is plv` oted as indicated at 31 to the adjacent end of a link 38, the opposite end of which is pivoted as indicated at 39 to an operating lever `4i3. 'The operating lever 40 is in turn pivoted as indicated at 4l to the adjacent end frame member of the movable couch section,

The lever 40 at one end of ythe movable couch section is connected by means of a rod 42 or the like to the lever 43 at the opposite end of the section so that the `operating levers 40 may be manually actuated simultaneously through the agency of a connecting bar or handle 42.

As shown in Figure 8, the movable couch section is disposed in extended and elevated or operative position relative to :the stationary couch section l5. The pillows I9 or other suitable cushion may then be placed on the movable couch section so as to bring the sleeping surface thereof into -substantially co-planar or other selected relation to the sleeping surface of the stationary section l5.

The movable couch section may be collapsed by swinging the levers 4B upwardly and rearwardly about their pivots 4l whereby rocking movement is imparted to the arms 35 through the agency of the links 38. Such rocking movement of the arms 35 is in turn transmitted through the pivotal connections 34 to `the pivotally connected, crossed or folding leg structure so as to cause said legs to assume the folded position illustrated in Figure 7 and in which position the top surface of the movable section is sulciently low to permit the section to be rolled on its leg rollers 32, 32 to a housed position under the stationary section. It will be understood that the height of the movable section is reduced in the collapsing movement to such an extent that the section when collapsed may be rolled under the lower edge 22 of the main section side frame without lifting the front portion of the stationary section.

To provide for effectively concealing the movable section when under the stationary section, provision is made for elevating the movable section into space indicated at 43 (Figures 2 and 3) which is surrounded by the side frame members 23 and over which suitable bed spring fabric 44 is stretched between supporting members 45 which are carried by said side frame members.

Said elevating means comprises a pair of tracks 46, 46 which extend crosswise of the stationary section and are disposed in alignment with the leg rollers 32, 32 of the rear legs 3D of the movable couch section. Said tracks 46 are xedly secured to a longitudinally extending supporting member 4l which is provided at its ends with suitable ears for receiving pivots 46, 48 by which the supporting bar 41 is pivotally mounted on brackets suchA as indicated at 49 which are secured to and depend from suitable portions of the stationary section frame structure. The pivot mounting 48 for the tracks 46 is so located between the front and rear ends of the respective tracks that the tracks will automatically assume the inclined position illustrated in Figure 3 when the movable couch section is in extended position. The inclined position of the tracks 45 results in this instance entirely from the unbalanced or oli-center position of the pivots 48 with reference to the length of the tracks 46.

When the movable couch section is rolled from its extended position as shown in Figure 3 to the position under the stationary couch section, the

rollers-32 of the rear legs 30 engage and ridev upwardly on the respectively aligned tracks 4S. Such movement of the movable couch section is arrested by engagement of pins or stops such as indicated at 8l with recessed seats or shoulders 88 provided adjacent the front ends of the said tracks 45, 46. The stops 8l are carried by and project inwardly from the front end portions of the rear legs 3G, 3l).

For the purpose of effecting a gradual arresting of the inward movement of the movable couch section, so as to prevent jarring and slamming of the structure and to eliminate noises, cam-like members 49, 49 are mounted on each of the legs 30, 3Q for cooperating with suitable pins or abutments 53, 5G which project inwardly from the respective tracks 46, 45. The cam devices 49 are of elongated form and include relatively abrupt angular rear end edge portions 5|, intermediate edge portions 52 which are substantially l parallel with the sides of the legs 30 and more gradually inclined front end angular edge portions 53.

By examination and comparison of Figures 2 and 3 it will be apparent that the relatively abrupt angular face 5l serves, upon engagement with the pins 5e, to initially provide a strong check to the inward movement of the movable couch section. Said edges 5I ride over the pins and the relatively parallel edge portion '52 permits continued, less-resisted but nevertheless gradually slackened movement over said pins and, of course, the gradually inclined edges 53 provide for gradual disengagement and complete relief of the indicated frictional resistance to nward movement of the movable couch section.

The interengaging pin and cam device 50, 49, serves also to prevent `too free outward rolling of the movable Section upon lowering of the front ends of said section and its supporting tracks and thus safeguards the operator from injury.

As an incident to the pivoted mounting of the tracks 46, 4t it will be apparent that when the movable section reaches its innermost position, the section may be rocked as a unit with the tracks 45 so as to elevate the front portion of the movable section into the space 43 wherein it is more effectively concealed in its housed position. It will be observed that the movable couch section is supported on the tracks 46 by engage- I ment of the rollers 372 at the rear side of the movable section with the tracks 45 and by engagement of the pins or stops 81 near the front ends of the legs 30 with the underlying edge of the respective tracks and the seats 83 therein. The under-cut arrangement of the seats 88 serves to provide a lip-like track portion 54 in overhanging relation to the pins 8l for preventing downward rocking of the front portions of the tracks relative to the movable couch section.

The location of the pivots 48 is such that the weight of the portions of the tracks and movable couch section on opposite sides of said pivot will counterbalance each other to such an extent that only a slight manual force need be exerted to elevate the front portion of the movable section to its concealed, housed position as illustrated in Figure 2. Obviously, the counterbalanced effect may be varied to suit any given demands by shifting the location of the pivot axis, by loading or weighting either end of the tracks or by the application of springs.

For facilitating manual operation of the structure, the movable couch section is equipped with a leg structure which is preferably located approximately mid-way of the length of the movvzu.

able couch section, Said leg structure comprises a suitable leg, arm or bracket 56 which is pivoted as indicated at 51 inthe sides 58, 58 of a U- shaped bracket member 59 which is suitably secured to the front side frame member 24 of the movable section (see Figure 10) Said leg bracket 56 is provided .adjacent its lower end with a. floorengaging roller 60. The leg bracket 56 also carries a cross-arm 6I which serves as an anchor for one end of each of a pair of springs 62, 62 which have their opposite ends anchored to a portion of the bracket 59. The springs 62 are stretched suiliciently to normally urge the leg 56 to normal supporting position las shown in Figure 4, the

.movement of the leg under the influence of the of the leg 56 on the pivot 51. It will be apparent,

however, that when it is desired to extend lthe couch, the leg 56 may be manually rocked outwardly on the pivot 51 against the tension of the spring 62 and the supported weight of the front portion of the movable couch section, Such outward movement of the leg 56, as indicated in Figure 6, initially permits the front portion of the movable couch section to rock ydownwardly in unison with the tracks .46 until such downward movementl is arrested by engagement of the rollers 32 of the legs 29 with the oor, whereupon the couch section may be pulled outwardly. Because of the inclined position of the tracks 46, but little if any pull is required to be exerted for effecting withdrawal of the movable couch secl tion from under the stationary couch section.

For improving the appearance of the leg 56 there is provided a suitable wooden or other body 63 provided with a channel 64 on its inside face for slidably fitting on the leg bracket 56 The body 63 is retained in such position on the leg member 56 by means of a strap 65 which spans the groove 64 `and extends across the face of a portion of the leg 56 as clearly shown in Figures 4 and 5. The leg body 63 is also preferably recessed to receive a compression spring 66 between the bottom of the recess in the leg -body and an ear or like extension 61 carried by the lower end of the leg member 56. Said `spring 66 serves to normally urge the leg body 63 upwardly into engagement at its upper end with the bottom edge of the front frame member 20 of the stationary couch section, thereby to avoid the appearance of a detached element of mechanism.

It will be apparent from an examination of Figures 4 and 6 that because of the outwardly offset relation of the leg body 63 to the leg member 56 and pivot 51, outward rocking movement of the leg 56 will necessitate downward movement of the leg body 63 so as to avoid the obstruction presented by the lower edge of the frame par-t Such downward movement of theleg body 63 is permitted by the described slidable mounting of the body on the leg 56 and such movement is preferably eected independently of the engagement of the upper end of the leg body 63 with the lower edge of the side frame member 20. For this purpose the upper end portion of the leg body 63 is provided with abracket part 68 rigidly secured to the leg body and having an upper end por-tion 69 in engagement with the adjacent portion of the frame member 24.

From .a comparison of Figures 4 and 6 it will be apparent that due to the engagement of the upper end extension 69 of the bracket 68 with the frame member 24, the leg body 63 will be automatically moved downwardly relative to lthe leg member 56 when the latter is swung outwardly on its pivot 51. To avoid the requirement for excessive movement of the leg body 63, the upper end thereof is grooved out as indicated at 10 to receive the lower front corner portion of the' side frame 20 in the manner indicated in Figure 6 during an initial portion of the outward rocking movement of the leg structure.

In many couch structures of the character indicated lthe side frame portions 20 of `the stationary couch section are covered with fabric or other finishing materials. To prevent excessive wear on such finishing material where the leg body 63` rocks .around the lower edge of the frame structure 20, a suitable wear plate 1l of metal or other i material may be provided as indicated. l The front portion of the movable couch section, l

when in its housed position, is suppo-rted in such a position by the leg 56.

In `order to facilitate shifting of the extensible couch structure yas when rearranging furniture in a room, a hook or latch 12 is provided. The latch hook 12 is pivoted as indicated at 13 on a suitable bracket 14 carried by the stationary couch s-tructure and the jaw portion 15 of the hook is adapted to underhang the horizontal flange portion of the front frame member 24 of the movable couch section. Downward swinging movement of the latch hook is limited by engagement of the end portion 16 thereof with the horizontal flange of the angle iron member 45.

For the purpose of disabling the latch hook 17. when the movable couch section is to be extended, -the leg member 56 is provided with an upper end extension 11 which 4is adapted to engage and move said hook to inoperative position as illustrated in Figure 6 when the leg is rocked outwardly.

A lazy tong 18 or like or other suitable guiding,

means may be employed for maintaining a parallel relation between the movable couch section and the stationary couch section. Said lazy tong construction may have its front ends disengageably connected with the movablecouch section so as to permit complete separation of the movable section from the stationary section in the event that it is desired to employ the movable section as a separate single bed.

The described extensible couch structure is very easy to operate due to its simplicity and to its more or less balanced arrangement for elevating the iront portion of the movable section to concealed housed position. Also, the inclined position of the supporting tracks facilitates outward movement of the movable section so that but little effort is required to fully extend the couch structure. Because of the oVer-the-center arrangement of the supporting leg 56, the movable couch section may be said to be self-locking in housed position *and such locking is automatically disengageable as an incident to the manual operation of rocking of the leg 56 outwardly when initiating extension of the couch structure. Due to the relative simplicity of the structure, the cost of manufacturing the same is low and its desirability both in respect of operation durability is enhanced.

The invention described is in the nature of a modification of the prior invention of Harry Halleran as set forth in his application Serial No. 228,440, filed in the United States Patent Office on September 3, 1938.

Changes in the described structure may be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which should be determined by reference to the following claims, the.

same being construed as broadly as possible consistent with the state of the art.

I claim:

l. In an extension couch the combination of a normally stationary section, a movable section adapted to be housed under said stationary section and withdrawn therefrom to Operative position, vertically rockable means carried by said stationary section for receiving and supporting said movable section in elevated position under said stationary section, said means being rockable about fulcrum points located intermediate the front and rear edges of the movable section when disposed on said means, thereby to cause a rear portion of the movable section to counterbalance the front portion thereof so as to facilitate lowering and raising of the front portion of the movable section when withdrawing or returning the movable section to elevated housed position.

2. In an extension couch the combination of a normally stationary section, a movable section adapted to be housed under said stationary section and Withdrawn therefrom to operative position, said movable section having supporting rollers on which the section is adapted to b-e rolled into and out of position under the stationary section, vertically rockable tracks carried by said stationary section in alignment with said rollers for receiving the same when said movable section is moved into housed position, said movable section and tracks being adapted to be rocked vertically as a unit so as to raise the front portions thereof into a substantially concealed position.

3. In an extension couch the combination of a normally stationary section, a movable section adapted to be housed under said stationary section and withdrawn therefrom to operative position, said movable section having supporting rollers on which the section is adapted to be rolled into and out of position under the stationary section, vertically rockable tracks carried by said stationary section in alignment with said rollers for receiving the same when said movable sectionis moved into housed position, said movable section and tracks being adapted to be rocked vertically as a unit so as to raise the front portions thereof into a substantially concealed position, the arrangement being such that the fulcrum for said rocking movement is disposed in a position which causes portions of said movable section and tracks on opposite sides of the fulcrurd to counter-balance each other.

4.. In an extension couch the combination of a normally stationary section, a movable section adapted to be housed under said stationary section and withdrawn therefrom to operative position, meansv for rockably mounting said movable section on said stationary section so as to cause the rear portion thereof to counter-balance the front portion so as to facilitate lowering and raising of said front portion when withdrawing or returning the movable section from and to its housed position, and manually engageable leg means carried by said movable section for supporting the latter when in housed position and serving to facilitate withdrawal of the movable section from said housed position.

5. In an extension couch the combination of a normally stationary section, a movable section adapted to be housed under said stationary section and withdrawn therefrom to operative position, means for rockably mounting said movable section on said stationary section so as to cause the rear portion thereof to counterbalance the front portion so as to facilitate lowering and raising of said front .portion when withdrawing or returning the movable section from and to its housed position, and a leg member pivoted to said movable section and having means adapted to engage the floor in such relation to the axis of the pivotal connection between the leg and movable section as to produce an over-the-center locking effect for maintaining the leg in operative supporting position.

6. In an extension couch the combination of a normally stationary section, a movable section adapted to be housed under said stationary section and withdrawn therefrom to operative position, means for rockably mounting said movable section on said stationary section so as to cause the rear portion thereof to counter-balance the front portion so as to facilitate lowering and raising of said front portion when withdrawing or returning the movable section from and to its housed position, latch means for holding said movable section in predetermined, elevated, housed position and manually engageable means for facilitating lowering and withdrawal of said movable section and operative to automatically effect disengagement of said latch means to permit lowering of said movable section.

'7. In an extension couch the combination of a normally stationary section, a movable section adapted to be housed under said stationary section and Withdrawn therefrom to operative position, said movable section having supporting rollers on which the section is adapted to be rolled into and out of position under the stationary section, vertically rockable tracks carried by said stationary section in alignment with said rollers for receiving the same when said movable section is moved into housed position, said movable section and tracks being adapted to be rocked vertically as a unit so as to raise the front portions thereof into a substantially concealed position.

8. In an extension couch the combination of a normally stationary section, a movable section adapted to be housed under said stationary section and withdrawn therefrom to operative position, said movable section having supporting rollers on which the section is adapted to be rolled into and out of position under the stationary section, vertically rockable tracks carried by said stationary section in alignment with said rollers for receiving the same when said movable section is moved into housed position, said movable section and tracks being adapted to be rocked vertically as a unit so as to raise the front portions thereof into a substantially concealed position, and means for interlocking said movable section and tracks so as to insure unitary movement thereof when the movable section is in housed position.

9. In an extension couch the combination of a normally stationary section, a movable section adapted to be housed under said stationary section and withdrawn therefrom to operative position, means carried by said stationary section .for rockably supporting said movable section so balance the front portion, whereby, when said t movable section is disposed under said stationary section, raising of the front portion of the movable section to substantially concealed position within the stationary section is facilitated.

10. In an extension couch, the combination of a normally stationary section, a movable section adapted to be housed in elevated, substantially concealed position under said stationary section and withdrawn therefrom to operative position, means for rockably supporting said movable section on said stationary section so as to cause the rear portion of the movable section to counterbalance its front portion, thereby facilitating the lowering and raising of said front portion for the purpose of withdrawing and returning the movable section from and to its housed position, said means comprising vertically rocakable tracks carried by said stationary section, said movable section being provided with foldable legs having rollers for iioor engagement for facilitating lateral movement of the movable section from and to its housed position, said rollers being disposed in alignment with said tracks whereby the latter are adapted to receive said rollers when the movable section is moved laterally into a position underlying said stationary section. v

11. In an extension couch, the combination of a normally stationary section, a movable section Y adapted to be housed in elevated, substantially concealed position under said stationary section and withdrawn therefrom to operative position, means for rockably supporting said movable section on said stationary section so as to cause the rear portion of the movable section to counterbalance its front portion, thereby facilitating the lowering and raising of said front portion for the purpose of withdrawing and returning the movable section from and to its housed position, and means for controlling the tendency of said movable section to move outwardly as an incident to the downward inclination of said rockable supporting means when the front portion of said movable section is lowered.

EDWARD E. WOLLER.

Images