Abstract: A piece of furniture for sitting and lying, more particularly a sickbed, having a horizontal surface divided into head, central and foot portions. A stationary frame extends at least the length of the central portion and the head and foot portions are pivotally mounted on the stationary frame about horizontal axes so they may be adjusted to horizontal and inclined positions by shifting the weight of the user's body and can be fixedly positioned by locking devices. A spring device, such as a torsion spring, equalizes the weight of the user on the head portion and the spring device is adjustable to control the initial stress applied to the head portion. The central portion is pivotally connected to the head portion through a connection that allows for end play and provides for leverage so that as the head portion is shifted to an inclined position, the central portion automatically moves to a proper reverse sloping position to accommodate sitting.

Abstract: An adjustable article of furniture, particularly an adjustable bed, has a frame and a backrest mounted on the frame for pivoting between a substantially horizontal rest position and an upright position. A leaf spring, or a plurality of such springs, is supported on the frame and urges the backrest toward its upright position. A section of the spring constitutes a seat support for the article of furniture, and can be deflected downwardly to a limited extent concurrently with pivoting of the backrest toward its upright position, from the generally straight configuration which the spring assumes when the backrest is in its rest position. The end of the spring which acts on the backrest is freely displaceable relative to the latter, either by being in sliding contact therewith, or by interposing anti-friction bearing means between the backrest and the respective end of the spring. An extension at the other end of the spring supports and biases a legrest toward a predetermined position of the same.