Week 5 Deliverables Sofa King 9 February 2005

Sofa Bed Recliner General Information Loren Hankla United States Patent Number: 4,829,611 Inventor: Bob Fireman, Gary Shaffield Date Granted: May 16, 1989 Called the SI mechanism

Sofa Bed Recliner Information Improvement of U.S. Pat. No. 4,642,823 Designed for full-sized futon mattresses Seat frame and back frame lockably engage Can be reset in one simple motion Only seat frame need be lifted and then moved down while the interlocked seat frame and back frame are guided to recliner position

Sofa Bed Recliner Information While in bed position, lifting of seat frame interlocks seat and back frame into a single interlocked frame Downward movement of seat frame returns interlocked frame from bed position to couch position Interlocked frame is disengaged once futon is in couch position

Sofa Bed Recliner Information Seat portion and back portion are movably engaged on a base There are guide means on base to guide back portion forward/back and up/down on base Joined back and seat portions are adapted to move forward to a horizontal position and back to a reclining position on base Detent on seat portion –Includes a pivot and springs

Sofa Bed Recliner Figures

Convertible Futon Frame JT Stukes / Chris Wooldridge United States Patent Number: 6,357,062 Inventor: William Woll, Steven Leichter Date Granted: April 27, 2000 Called “Frame Convertible into Couch or Bed”

Convertible Frame Information Primary Claim –A simplified futon design that allows for easier use in terms of physical exertion required to fully convert from sofa to bed and vice versa.

Convertible Frame Information Characteristics –Frame has a seat and back piece pivotally joined to one another so that they can occupy flat and also angled configurations –The joined seat and back pieces move in rollers in appropriately positioned slots in side arms and legs which are joined at each distal end to the seat and back pieces

Convertible Frame Information The frame pieces, for both the flat and angled positions, are held stable by rollers that become lodged in the ends of the respective guide slots

Convertible Frame Information A solid block is attached below the back piece that engages the seat piece when the frame is converted from bed to couch The block allows the seat piece to be used as a lever to raise the back piece without major physical effort while the edge of the seat piece is pushed and used as a lever handle

Convertible Frame Figures

Automatic Futon Frame Ankur Desai Title: Automatic Futon Frame Patent No: 6,138,299 Date Granted: October 31, 2000 Inventor: John Roma, James Stuart

Automatic Futon Frame Uses a pair of linear actuators to drive frame automatically and continuously Adjusts between the sofa position and bed position Back connected to frame by upper and lower follower bearings Motor controller mounted under the seat connected to the actuators

Automatic Futon Frame Operates while individuals are seated and lying down Dual electric motors fixed at opposite sides by mounting brackets Limit switches arranged at opposite ends to signal shut-off of motor when seat reaches sofa or bed position

Automatic Futon Frame

Three Frame Convertible Futon Sofa Bed Barrett Evans Title: Three frame convertible futon sofa bed Patent Number: 5,327,591 Date Granted: July 12, 1994 Inventors: Robert Fireman, Ralph Rosenow

Three Frame Convertible Futon Sofa Bed This futon design consists of a three piece frame connected by pivot joints. Rollers make the conversion from sofa to bed smoother and easier. The very back of the futon cushion faces the wall in the sofa position. Conversion can occur without moving the frame away from the wall.

Three Frame Convertible Futon Sofa Bed Upon unfolding from the sofa position, hinged supports lower and open to support the bed position. The frame is intended to be wooden. The resulting bed is larger than most other futon designs because it consists of three pieces instead of two.

Three Frame Convertible Futon Sofa Bed

Product: Futon Frame Model: Mission Metal Full Futon Manufacturer: Elite Furniture

Product: Futon Frame

2 End panels 2 Frame pieces: Back and Seat Simple spring loaded hinge Frame supported by end panels and 2 horizontal bars (front and back) Sofa Dimensions: 80"W x 36"D x 31"H Sleeper Dimensions: 80"W x 54"D x 21"H.

Self Locking Futon Frame United States Patent Number: 5,628,076 Inventor: John H. Newton Date Granted: May 13, 1997

Convertible Frame Figures

Self Locking Futon Frame Information Improvement of U.S. Pat. No. 4,996,730 Utilizes a simplistic 4 point linkage system. Allows bottom section to slide out and away from the arm rests. Eliminates the need for a locking mechanism. Futon locks into place without the use of spring or ratcheting mechanisms

Self Locking Futon Frame Information John Pendley The futon’s linkage design locks the frame in only two positions. Any time the futon is in between the couch or bed position, it is free moving. The serpentine slots increase the rigidity of the futon frame. A roller element connects these serpentine slots with the frame’s linkage.