Abstract: The invention includes methods and software tools for acquiring data from diverse sources, and structuring the data in a form that may be used to determine object equivalence. Practice of the invention includes one or more of the following tools: a data acquisition web agent creator, a web agent created by the web agent creator, an agent manager for deploying said web agent, and ontology-directed classifier, an ontology-directed extractor, and an ontology-directed matcher. The tools are example driven through a graphical user interface.

Abstract: A folding bed assembly for use within an article of furniture, such as a desk, having a fixed top wall. A series of bed sections, pivoted to one another in succession, are foldable into a generally rectangular collapsed condition in which the longer dimension of the rectangle is oriented vertically when the folded sections are within the article of furniture. The bed sections are mounted on a wheeled carriage, and a vertical panel hides the bed assembly when it is within the article of furniture. A carriage linkage responds to pivoting of the panel from its vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation for moving the carriage and bed sections out of the article of furniture. A swing-out linkage pivotally supports the collapsed bed sections on the carriage, the swing-out linkage constraining the collapsed bed sections to move between a storage position, in which the collapsed bed sections are close to the carriage, and a swing-out position in which the collapsed bed sections are elevated above the carriage.

Abstract: A sofa-bed assembly comprising a rear vertical section, a lower horizontal section, a front vertical section, and an upper horizontal section pivoted to one another in succession for folding movement between a collapsed sofa condition and an extended bed contidion. A mattress folded within the assembly presses upwardly against the upper horizontal section, and a locking linkage arrangement resists the tendency of the folded mattress to swing the upper horizontal section upwardly out of a horizontal plane when the assembly is in its collapsed condition. Release of the locking linkage involves initially compressing the mattress further, thereby increasing the force required to open the bed. Additional links respond to unfolding of the rear leg, which supports the unfolded lower horizontal section for relieving some of the pressure of the mattress on the upper horizontal section, thereby reducing the force required to open the locking linkage to permit unfolding of the upper horizontal section.

Abstract: A sofa-bed assembly comprising a series of sections pivoted to one another in succession and foldable between a collapsed sofa condition and an extended bed condition. A supporting linkage includes a control link pivotally connected to one of the sections, and two pivot links each pivotable about a fixed axis and each pivotally connected directly to the control link. The supporting linkage is located in its entirety below the plane containing the upper surface of the uppermost section when the sections are in their collapsed condition.

Abstract: A sofa-bed mechanism for use in a sofa body having a relatively low seating level. The mechanism includes four sections foldable within the sofa body and alternatively extensible out of the sofa body to define a bed. The linkage which connects the four sections to the sofa body, and controls movement of those sections, includes an arrangement for permitting the mechanism to be located at a low level within the sofa body, and the lower rear corner of the mechanism to swing through a shallower arc than usual. The linkage also includes an arrangement for preventing the top section from experiencing opening movement, and for preventing the rear supporting leg of the mechanism from opening, until the sections move out from beneath the sofa body breast rail and the rear leg passes over the sofa body front rail.