US3281871A - Sofa-bed - Google Patents

Description

A. J. KATZ Nov. 1, 1966 SOFA-BED 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 18, 1955 s MQ @N mw INVENTOR. AMEX J- /114 7'2' A. J. KATZ Nov. 1, 1966 SOFA-BED 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 18, 1965 A. J. KATZ Nov. l, 1966 SOFA-BED 5 Sheets-Sheet I5 Filed March 18, 1965 A. J. KATZ Nov. 1, 1966 SOFA-BED 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 18, 1965 r um f mK m m/.w m wx N 1E L A A. J. KATZ Nov.. 196.6

S OFA-BED 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 18, 1965 4. .uw mm; @www 3,281,871 @GFA-BED Alex JI. Katz, West Grange, NJ.

Spring Corp., Foot of E. 46th St., Bayonne, Nal.) Filed Mar. 18, 1965, Ser. No. 449,845

(% Super Sagless 14 Claims. (Cl. :3l-13) This invention relates to sofa-beds in which the bed comprises a plurality of collapsible pull-out sections. It is particularly directed to a clam shell type of collapsible bed on which people sleep parallel to the sofa. This type of bed comprises three interpivoted bed sections.

An object of this invention is to provide a sofa-bed of the character described which in closed, collapsed or sitting position has no linkage sticking up above the bed deck (the top of the front bed Section in the fully collapsed position of the bed), the construction being such, furthermore, that the sofa can employ a loose pillow back or comprise a completely open back, or a conventional fitted back.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bed of the character described having a motion which enables it to clear a front board of the sofa frame, and at the same time to clear a conventional padded back of the sofa frame; and in which the bed has a conventional sleeping height when opened; the construction being such that the bed moves up considerably from a low collapsed position to obtain proper height, and yet moves out sufficiently to give the bed proper width.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a bed of the character described, mechanism including a rear throw-out link and a rear booster spring, which in the collapsed position of the bed is tensioned and is attempting to rotate the throw-out link away from co1- lapsed position to facilitate the initiation of the pull-out cycle, said booster spring further acting to close the bed, after the bed clears the front foot board, thereby tending to lift the bed and hence preventing it from banging down on the floor; this booster spring, in the open position of the bed, also being helpful to start the closing of the bed, thereby to make the bed easier to close.

Another object of this invention is to provide a strong, durable and compact sofa-bed of the character described, which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy to manipulate, comfortable to use, and which shall yet be practical and efficient to a high degree.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplied in the construction hereinafter described, and of whi-ch the scope of invention will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown an illustrative embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a sofa-bed embodying the invention, in fully collapsed condition;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the bed partially open up and showing the front legs just clearing the front board of the sofa frame;

FIG, 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the bed with the front section over the rear section.

FIG. 4 is a partial side elevational view showing the bed fully opened up and extended; and

FIG. 5 is a partial top plan view of the bed in opened up condition, showing one side only.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, 1d designates a sofa bed embodying the invention. The same comprises a sofa frame 11 having side walls 12 having lower edges 12a and upper edges 12b, front legs 13, rear legs 14, side arms 15, a back 16 and a front board 17 having an upper edge 18 disposed at a level well below the top Patented Nov. l, 1966 of the side arms 15. The side arms are interconnected by the back 16, the front board 17 and by a crossrail 19 disposed forwardly of the back and above the upper edge 18 of the front board, and defining the space for the conventional pillow back for the sofa frame. The sofa frame may be of usual, conventional construction.

Fixed to the inner sides of each side arm 15 is a chassis plate 20 extending horizontally and disposed in a vertical plane above the lower edges 12a of the side walls 12. The drawings show the bed mechanism on one side of the sofa, it being understood that the mechanism on the other side is similar and symmetrically disposed. Said plates Ztl extend 4to the inside of the front board 17 and are interconnected by a front angle iron 21 riveted as at 21a to front flange extensions 20a of said plates. The rear ends of plates 20 are located forwardly of the back 16 of the sofa-frame. Fixed to said plates 20, adjacent the rear ends thereof, as by rivets 25, are off-set upstanding chassis bars 26 projecting up above the upper edges 12b of said side Walls 12. Connected to said chassis plates 20 and chassis bars 26, is a collapsible bed B, as will be explained hereinafter.

Pivoted as at 27, to the upper ends of chassis bars 26 are rear throw-out links 30 which, in the extended position of the bed B, as will be explained hereinafter, are inclined forwardly and upwardly as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawing.

Throw-out links 30 are almost diamond shaped, having an apex 27a at pivot pin 27, from which extend edges 30a, 30]). Extending from edge 30a is an edge 30C substantially parallel to edge 30h and forming an obtuse angle with edge 30a. Extending from edge 30h is an edge 30d forming an obtuse angle with edge 30h and an acute angle with edge Stic and forming an apex 30e opposite apex 27a.

Pivoted to each chassis plate 20, as by pivot 32 located rearwardly of front bio-ard 17, is a main lever 35 having one short arm 36 curved downwardly 'and rearwardly in the position of FIG. 4, and a second Ilong, straight arm 37 'inclined rearwardly and upwardly in said position of FIG, 4. In the fully extended position lof the bed, as 'shown in FIG. 4, the upper end of .arm 37 is located somewlhat in front of and somewhat below the apex 30e of throw-out link 30. Pivoted to said upper end of arm 37, as at 38, is Ia first control link 39 inclined downwardly 'and rearwardly and connected by pivot 40 to throw-out link 30 near the junction of edges 30a, 39C thereof. The throw-out links Sli on both sides of the bed B are interconnected by a transverse tubular tie rod 42 having ilattened end portions 44 extending through slots 45 in said links and riveted at their outer ends.

Arm 36 of main lever 35 projects down below edge 12a, in the fully extended position of FIG. 4. Att-ached to the inside of each dhasss plate 20, near the rear end thereof, is a bracket 47 having an offset flange 47a formed with an opening through which extends the threaded shank 48 of a hook screw 49. A nut 50 screwed on said shank 4S, abuts ilange 47a. The horok of said screw 49 is connected `by a coil tension spring 51 to t'he lower 'end of arm 36 of the main link 35. Thus, springs 51 tend to rotate the main levers 35 in 1a clockwise direction, looking at FIG. 4, hence tending to rotate the throw-out links 3l! in -a clockwise direction about pivot 27.

Pivoted to 'each throw-out link 3tlg as by pivot 53 located near edge 36e :and between pivot 40 and apex 30e, is a second control llink 54. In the fully extended 'position of FIG. 4, link 54 has an arm 54a extending up from pivot 53, from which arm extends yforwardly an arm 54h. Pivoted to the forward end of each arm 5411, as at 55, is a bell crank lever 56. Said lever 56 has an arm 57 projecting rearwardly in the FIG. 4 position, yand an arm 58 projecting downwardly. Said lever 56 is pivoted las at 59, at the junction of said arms 57, 58, to a side member 60 of la rear bed section 61 of bed B. The side members 60 are interconnected by an end member 62. Said members 60, 62 are angle irons. A gusset plate 62a may be provided to strengthen the corner of members 60, 62. End member 62 is located forwardly of pivots 53 and just thereabrove in the fully extended position of the bed B.

Pivoted to the front ends of rear bed section 61 is an intermediate bed section 64 comprising side angle iron members 65 having vertical anges pivoted at the rear ends as at 66, to the forward ends of the vertical anges of side members 60 of the rear bed section 61. Side members 65 are interconnected by transverse tie rods 68, 69. Pivoted to the tfront ends of intermediate bed section 64 is a front bed section 70. Said bed section 70 comprises side member angle irons 71 having vertical flanges pivoted at their rear ends, as by pivot pins 72, to the front ends of the vertical ilanges of side members 65.

The-front ends of lside members 71 are interconnected by a transverse front member 73. The lengths of Afront and rear bed sections 70, 61 are about the same and are each considerably longer than th'e intermediate bed section 64.

Pivoted on .the pivot pins 66 are rear legs 75 interconnected yby a cnoss tie-rod 76. In the partially opened position of the bed shown in FIG. 3, the legs 75 contact the floor.

The ybed sections 61, 64, 70 supporta mattress platform 77 of usual construction comprising wires 78 connected to 'each other and also connected to the bed sections by coil tension springs 79. Said rear legs 75 are connected Ato the lower ends of arms 58 of bell crank levers 56, by means of links 80 pivoted to the legs 75 as by pivot pins 81 slightly below the upper ends of said legs, and by pivot pins 82 located at the lower ends of said arms 58.

For the punpose hereinafter appearing short third con- .trol links 85 are pivoted at their lower ends to pivot pins 38, and at their upper ends, as by pivots 86, to intermediate portions of arms 54h of links 54. Pivoted to side memebrs 60- of rear bed section 61, as by pivot pins 90, are slotted bell-crank contnol links or levers 91. FDhe pivots are located rearwardly of pivots 59.

Bell-crank levers 91 each have a short arm 92 projecting downwardly, in the FIG. 4 position of the bed, and said arm is connected by a coil tension booster spring 94, engaging a pin 95 on said arm 92, to la pin 96 at the apex 30e of the throw-out link 30.

Each bell-crank lever 91 also lhas a longer .arm 97 projecting upwardly and rearwardly, in said f'ully extended position of said bed, which arm is f-ormed with a straight longitudinal slot 98 in which ris slidably received a guide pin 99 xed to said arm 54b of link 54 and located to the right of pivot 86.

In the fully extended or open position of the bed, guide pin 99 is located at the rear lower end of slot 98.

Pivoted to each side member 65 of intermediate section 64, as by pivot 100, is a link 101. The vertical flange of each of the side members 60 of rear section 61, is formed with a longitudinal slot 102. Each link 101 carries a pivot pin 103 passing through slot 102. In the fully extended position of the bed, pins 103 are at the forward ends of slots 102.. Pivoted on each pivot pin 103 is a link 104 inclined downwardly and rearwardly in the fully extended position of the bed. Each link 104 is formed with a longitudinal slot 105 through which the pivot pin 82 slidably passes. In said FIG. 4 position of the bed, pivot pin 82 is at the rear or lower end of slot 105.

Pivoted to each link 101 near pivot pin 100, as by pivlot pin 107, is a link 108 which extends forwardly of pivot 107, las shown in FIG. 4. The forward end of each llink 108 is pivoted as at 109 to a link 110 which also extends forwardly and is pivoted as |at 111 to a vertical flange of side member 71 of front bed section 70.

Pivoted to each side member 71 of front s'ection 70, as

4 at 115, is a front leg 116 which contacts the tloor when the bed is fully extended. Said leg 116 has a portion 117 projecting above pivot 115. Pivoted to said projecting portion 117, as at 118 is Aa link 119 which is pivoted as at 120, to link in spaced relation to pivot 111.

P-ivoted to each side member 65 of intermediate section 64, -as at 122, is a link 123 formed at its outer end with a slot 124 slidably receiving a pin 125 on link 110 and located between pivot pins and 109 `but clser to pin 120.

Pivoted to front side members 71 as at 130, is a stabilizing cross-member 132 having side portions 133 extending down from said pivots and an interconnecting por-tion 134. Pivoted to said side members 133 as at 135, are links 136 formed with slots 1.37 slidably receiving pins 138 on links 123.

In the fully extended position of the bed, pins 138 are at the upper ends of slots 137 and links 136 are inclined rearwardly and upwardly.

It will be noted that the throw-out link 30, and control links 54, 85 and 39 constitute a four bar linkage.

To collapse the bed from the fully extended position of FIG. 4, the front section 70 is swung up 90 about pivot pins 72 and then the front and intermediate sections 70 and 64 are swung together for another 90 about pivot pins 66 to the position of FIG. 3. Then the bed is first raised to the position of FIG. 2 and then swung down into the sofa frame to the fully collapsed position of FIG. l. It will be understood that this procedure is reversed to open the bed.

The booster spring control links or levers 91 have two functions. In the closed or fully collapsed position of the bed, the booster springs 94 are stretched and tensioned and are urging the rear throw-out links 30 away from collapsed position in a counter clockwise direction. This pull is in addition to the pull of the main levers 35 under the influence of main springs 51, which also 'tend to rotate the rear throw-out links 30 away from collapsed condition, to facilitate movement of the bed from the fully collapsed position of FIG. 1 toward the partially opened up position of FIG. 2.

Also, as the bed clears the front board 17, as shown in FIG. 2, the bed would have a tendency to drop heavily toward the floor, but the booster springs 94 then pull the rear throw-out links 30 in an opposite direction (see FIG. 3), tending then to close the bed and hence tending to lift the bed and prevent it from banging down heavily on the oor. These booster springs 94 also help start the close of the bed from the position of FIG. 3 to the position of FIG. 2.

It will be noted that pin 96 passes from one side of an imaginary line connecting fixed pin 27 and pin 95 to the other side of said line as the bed moves from the position of FIG. 2 toward the position of FIG. 3.

It will be observed that in the fully closed position of the bed (FIG. l), no part of the linkage projects above the the deck, i.e., the top of the front bed section 70 when collapsed.

Furthermore, the mechanism permits the use of a loose pillow back or a completely open back bed or a conventional fitted back.

The two control levers 39 and 85 serve the function of controlling the motion of the rear throw-out links 30, giving the bed a forwardly and upwardly motion which enables it -to clear a front board, and at the same time clear a conventional padded sofa back. The bed will move from the collapsed position of FIG. l to the position of FIG. 2, by moving up forwardly of cross-rail 19 and over the front board 17. This movement is accomplished because the rear throw-out links 30 swing forwardly from the downwardly and rearwardly inclined position of the fully collapsed bed to clear the padded back and then swing up to move the bed upwardly to clear the front board.

Further, the bed moves up considerably to get a proper height from a low collapsed position and yet moves out sufiiciently to bring the bed out a considerable distance in the fully extended position, to permit sutiicient room for comfortable sleeping of two persons in positions parallel to the sofa frame.

Upon raising the front section 7) of the bed, leg 116 is swung toward said front section about pivot 115, due to the push of link M9 acted upon by links L10, 108.

As the fron-t section 70 is swung together with the intermediate section 69, to the position of FIG. 3, pin 103 is slid to the left end of slot 192. As the bed is moved from the position of FIG. 3 to the position of FIG. 2, leg 75 is raised and swung by link 80 toward the underside of the rear section 61 of the bed. During this movement pin 82 slides down slot 105, bell-crank 56 is rotated to pull on link 54 for rotating the rear throw-out links 30 in a clockwise direction. As the bed is moved from the position of FIG. 2 to the fully closed position of FIG. l, the main springs l are tensioned by rotation of the main lever 35 in a counterclockwise direction, as the rear throw-out links 3) swing downwardly and rearwardly, thereby also tensioning the booster springs 94.

In the fully extended position of the bed, (FIG. 4), the rear section 61 is supported by the main lever 35, the first control lever 39, the throw-out link 30, and the control link 85 pivoted to the control link 54 (which is pivoted to the throw-out link 30), and the bell-crank lever 56 which is pivoted to the control link 54 and to the rear bed section 6l.

In the fully collapsed position of the bed, lugs 154i fixed to side members 65 of intermeditae bed section 64, rest on angle iron 2l. Also arms 57 of bell-cranks 56 project up `and are pivoted to link 54 which is pivoted to the rear throw-out link 30, which in this position projects downwardly and rearwardly. The bed is thus supported in fully collapsed position. In the collapsed posi- -tion links llt), NS and 101 hold the rearwardly extending front section at right angles to intermediate section 64, since pins 103 are at the left ends of slots 102.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a combination device in which the several objects of the present invention are achieved and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

t. In an extensible collapsible bed, a chassis, a rear throw-out member pivoted to said chassis and inclined upwardly and forwardly in the extended condition of the bed, a main lever pivoted to said chassis and having an arm projecting downwardly and an arm projecting upwardly and rearwardly in the extended condition of the bed, a main tension spring connecting said downwardly projecting arm with said chassis, a first control link connecting said upwardly projecting arm with said throw-out member, a three section collapsible bed comprising a rear bed section, an intermediate bed section pivoted to the front end of said rear bed section, and a front bed section pivoted to the front end of said intermediate bed section, said three sections being in alignment, in the extended condition of the bed, a rear leg pivoted to the rear bed section, a front leg pivoted to said front bed section, a bell crank pivoted to said rear bed section and having a downwardly extending arm and a forwardly extending arm, and a second control link connecting said forwardly extending arm of said bell-crank with said throw-out member, said bed being fully collapsible to a position in which the rear bed section is down, the intermediate bed section extends up from the front end of said rear section, and said front section is located above the rear section and extends rearwardly from the upper end of said intermediate section, said rear throw-out link extending downwardly and rearwardly from its pivotal connection to said chassis, in the collapsed condition of said bed.

2. In an extensible collapsible bed, a chassis, a rear throw-out member pivoted to said chassis and inclined upwardly and forwardly in the extended condition of the bed, a main lever pivoted to said chassis and having an arm projecting downwardly and an arm projecting upwardly and rearwardly, a main tension spring connecting said downwardly projecting arm with said chassis, a first control link connecting said upwardly projecting arm with said throw-out member, a rear bed section, an intermediate bed section pivoted to the front end of said rear bed section, a front bed section pivoted to the front end of said intermediate bed section, said sections being in alignment, in the extended condition of the bed, a rear leg pivoted to the rear bed section, a front leg pivoted to said front bed section, a bell-crank pivoted to said rear bed section and having a downwardly extending arm and a forwardly extending arm, and a second control link connecting said forwardly extending arm of said bell-crank with said throw-out member, a control lever pivoted vto said rear bed section, and having a downwardly extending arm, a booster spring connecting said downwardly extending arm of said control lever with said throw-out link, and a third control link connecting the pivotal connection of said upwardly extending arm of said main lever and said first control link, to said second control link.

3. The combination of claim 2, said control lever having a rearwardly extending arm formed with a longitudinal slot and a pin on said second control link slidably received in said slot.

4. The combination of claim 3, the pivotal connection of said iirst control link to said throw-out member being located between the pivotal connection of said second control link with said throw-out member, and the pivotal connection of said throw-out member to said chassis, the pivotal connection of said second control link with said throw-out member being disposed between the pivotal connection of said first control link with said throw-out member and the point of connection of said booster springwith said throw-out member.

5. In combination, a chassis, a bed comprising a rear section, an intermediate section pivoted to the front of said rear section, and a front section pivoted to the front of said intermediate section, a rear throw-out member pivoted to said chassis, a main lever pivoted to said chassis, spring means to rotate said main lever in one direction, a iirst control link connecting said main lever with said throw-out member, a bell crank member pivoted to said rear section, a second control link pivotally connecting said throw-out member with said bell-crank member, and booster spring means tending to rotate said throw-out member in one direction when said bed sections are extended and in horizontal alignment, and said throwout member extends forwardly, said sections being fully collapsible to bring said rear section down, said intermediate section at right angles to and extending up from the front end of said rear section, and said front section to a position over the rear section and extending rearwardly from the upper end of said intermediate section, with said throw-out link extending rearwardly and said booster spring means tending to rotate said throw-out member in an opposite direction when said bed sections are in said collapsed condition.

6. The combination of claim 5, a leg pivoted to the front end of said rear section, and said booster spring means tending to swing said leg up toward the underside of said rear section when said throw-out link is inclined upwardly and forwardly.

7. In combination, a chassis, a rear throw-out link pivoted to the rear of the chassis, a main lever pivoted to the front of the chassis, a control link connecting the main lever and the throw-out link, first spring means acting on the main lever tending to swing the throw-out link forwardly, a three section bed comprising a rear section, an intermediate section pivoted to the rear section, and a front section pivoted to the intermediate section, means connecting said throw-out link and main lever to said rear section, and second spring means other than said rst spring means, tending to rotate said throw-out link t0- ward a position where the pivotal connection of said throw-out link to said chassis, and the pivotal connections of said control link to said main lever and throw-out link, are substantially in alignment.

8. The combination of claim 7, a rear leg pivoted to said rear section, and means controlled by said second spring means, and acting on the means which connects said rear section to said main lever and throw-out link, tending to swing said leg toward the undersideof said rear section.

9. The combination of claim 8, a front leg pivoted to said front section, means to permit said bed to be moved from a fully extended position with said bed sections in horizontal alignment and with said legs contacting the oor, and with said rear throw-out link inclined forwardly and upwardly, to a fully collapsed position with said throw-out link inclined downwardly and rearwardly, with the rear section in horizontal position substantially coextensive with said chassis, with the intermediate section extending up from the front end of said rear section, and with the front section extending rearwardly from the upper end of said intermediate section.

10. The combination of claim 9, said throw-out link, main lever, said second spring means, and said connecting means being located below the top of said front section in said fully collapsed position of -the bed.

11. A collapsible bed having an open and closed position, and comprising, in combination, a chassis, a rear throw-out member pivotally mounted on said chassis, a main lever pivotally mounted on said chassis, resilient means to urge said main lever toward the open position of said bed, said bed comprising front and rear bed sections pivotally connected to an intermediate bed section, means to connect said rear bed section to said main lever and said rear throw-out member, said connect means including means to support said rear bed section in the opened position of said bed, and booster spring means, including a coil spring connected to said rear throw-out member, urging said rear throw-out member toward a position where the pivotal connection of said rear throwout member to said chassis is in alignment with the axis of said coil spring.

12. The combination of claim 11, said connect means comprising a iirst control link connecting said main lever to said throw-out member, a bell-crank pivoted to said rear bed section, a second control link connecting a rst arm of said bell crank to said throw-out member, and a third control link connecting the connecting point of said main lever and iirst control link, to said second control link.

13. The combination of claim 12, the pivotal connection of said first control link to said throw-out member being located between the pivotal connection of said second control link with said throw-out member, and the pivotal connection of said throw-out member to said chassis, the pivotal connection of said second control link with said throw-out member being disposed between the pivotal connection of said rst control link with said throw-out member and the point of connection of said booster spring with said throw-out member.

14. The combination of claim 12, said booster spring means also including a two-armed control lever pivoted `to said rear bed section, said coil spring being connected `to one arm of said control lever, the other arm of said control lever being formed with a longitudinal slot, and a pin fixed to said second control link slidably received in said slot.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,991,484 7/1961 Willis 5-55 X 3,150,384 9/1964 Helton 5-13 3,209,377 10/1965 Fox 5--13 3,209,378 10/1965 Laemmle 5--13 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. IN AN EXTENSIBLE COLLAPSIBLE BED, A CHASSIS, A REAR THROW-OUT MEMBER PIVOTED TO SAID CHASSIS AND INCLINED UPWARDLY AND FORWARDLY IN THE EXTENDED CONDITION OF THE BED, A MAIN LEVER PIVOTED TO SAID CHASSIS AND HAVING AN ARM PROJECITNG DOWNWARDLY AND AN ARM PROJECTING UPWARDLY AND REARWARDLY IN THE EXTENDED CONDITION OF THE BED, A MAIN TENSION SPRING CONNECTING SAID DOWNWARDLY PROJECTING ARM WITH SAID CHASSIS, A FIRST CONTROL LINK CONNECTING SAID UPWARDLY PROJECTING ARM WITH SAID THROW-OUT MEMBER, A THREE SECTION COLLAPSIBLE BED COMPRISING A REAR BED SECTION, AN INTERMEDIATE BED SECTION PIVOTED TO THE FRONT END OF SAID REAR BED SECTION, AND A FRONT BED SECTION PIVOTED TO THE FRONT END OF SAID INTERMEDIATE BED SECTION, SAID THREE SECTIONS, BEING IN ALIGNMENT, IN THE EXTENDED CONDITION OF THE BED, A REAR LEG PIVOTED TO THE REAR BED SECTION, A FRONT LEG PIVOTED TO SAID FRONT BED SECTION, A BELL CRANK PIVOTED TO SAID REAR BED SECTION AND HAVING A DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING ARM AND A FORWARDLY EXTENDING ARM, AND A SECOND CONTROL LINK CONNECTING SAID FORWARDLY EXTENDING ARM OF SAID BELL-CRANK WITH SAID THROW-OUT MEMBER, SAID BED BEING FULLY COLLAPSIBLE TO A POSITION IN WHICH THE REAR BED SECTION IS DOWN, THE IN TERMEDIATE BED SECTION EXTENDS UP FROM THE FRONT END OF SAID REAR SECTION, AND SAID FRONT SECTION IS LOCATED ABOVE THE REAR SECTION AND EXTENDS REARWARDLY FROM THE UPPER END OF SAID INTERMEDIATE SECTION, AND SAID REAR THROW-OUT LINK EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY AND REARWARDLY FROM ITS PIVOTAL CONNECTION TO SAID CHASSIS, IN THE COLLAPSED CONDITION OF SAID BED.

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