Transformable Furniture

Abstract

One embodiment of an article of transformable furniture comprising movable and removable cushioned components that have specific relative dimensions and forms that allow for a minimum of three furniture configurations. Two of the components being wedge-like cushioned pieces (21a, 21b) designed specifically to be arrangeable in manner providing one configuration selected from the group consisting of a couch, a chaise longue, or a small bed.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The application relates to an article of furniture, and more specifically to a furniture piece that is transformable into one of several various furniture forms.

2. Prior Art

Furniture that is convertible between two forms is convenient for providing more options for different situations and for taking less room than two different pieces with singular functions. A furniture piece that has the versatility to convert back and forth between three or more forms is even superior. Unfortunately, a great number of the furniture currently available that are transformable from one furniture type to another require complex mechanical parts. For example, Bergstrom U.S. Pat. No. 2,328,411 (1943), Horenkamp U.S. Pat. No. 4,672,696 (1987), and Griepentrog U.S. Pat. No. 7607180 (2009) can be transformed into different types of furniture but require complex sets of levers, wheels, springs, and other components. Designs requiring such mechanical parts to function fully incur greater construction cost with greater complexity and may require the manipulation of strong springs, levers or a heavy piece of the furniture.

Other pieces of furniture can be problematic when they consume varying floor space in different configurations. Delmestri U.S. Pat. No. 7,685,655 (2010) requires approximately twice the floor space when converted to a “sleeper mode.” Moreover, Delmestri U.S. Pat. No. 7,685,655 (2010) provides only two furniture types, “sleeper mode” and a “sofa mode.”

Some furniture pieces require the user to move or lift the entire piece of the furniture to make the transformation such as Lillard U.S. Pat. No. 3,742,526 (1973) which is also limited to two modes, a chair and chaise longue. Moreover, the design of Lillard U.S. Pat. No. 3,742,526 (1973) ties the height of the furniture to the type of furniture, i.e. when the piece is arranged as a chaise longue its seating area is closer to the ground than the chair form which can be an inconvenience if the height relative to other furniture pieces such as a coffee table or an entertainment center is a factor. Lillard U.S. Pat. No. 3,742,526 (1973) also triples the amount of floor area required when converted into a chaise longue which can be disruptive if a room was arranged around the smaller footprint of the chair form.

Thus several advantages of one or more aspects are to provide a furniture pieces as a platform and method for a user to obtain several configurations of its components to achieve one of three or more furniture types with fast and simple arranging of components that are not awkwardly large or substantially heavy. Other ideal advantages include achieving any one of several configurations without needing complex and expensive mechanical components and without substantial change in the required floor space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one embodiment an article of furniture made of independent components that can easily be transformed into one of various furniture types afforded by the specially calibrated geometries of the components.

DRAWINGS-FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective of the furniture piece in a couch formation.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the furniture piece in a couch formation with notation.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the furniture piece in a couch formation.

FIG. 4 is another elevational view of the furniture piece in a couch formation.

FIG. 5 is a perspective of the wedge-like form component when separated from other components.

FIG. 6A to 6C are elevational views of the wedge-like form showing optional positioning on a horizontal surface.

FIG. 6D is an elevational view of two wedge-like forms stacked.

FIG. 6E is an elevational view of an alternative method of stacking two wedge-like forms.

FIG. 7 is a perspective of the furniture piece in a chaise longue formation.

FIG. 8 is a elevational view of two components juxtaposed.

FIG. 9 is an elevational view of the furniture piece in a chaise longue formation.

FIG. 10 is a perspective of the furniture piece in a bed formation.

FIG. 11 is an elevational view of the furniture piece in a bed formation.

FIG. 12 is a perspective of the frame without cushioned components.

FIG. 13 is a perspective detail of a method of attaching two components.

FIG. 14 is a perspective of an alternative embodiment in couch formation.

FIG. 15 is a perspective of an alternative embodiment in chaise longue formation.

FIG. 16 is a perspective of an alternative embodiment in bed formation.

FIG. 17A to 17C are perspectives of alternative shapes of the wedge-like form.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment comprising a base or frame 24 supporting several cushioned geometric forms such as the long horizontal piece 22, comprising foam, and the vertical support piece 23. Two wedge-like pieces 21a and 21b, and rectangular side pieces 25a and 25b rest upon the long horizontal piece 22. I presently contemplate that the long horizontal piece 22 and the two smaller rectangular side pieces 25a and 25b are connected while the cushioned wedge-like pieces 21a and 21b, the vertical support piece 23, and the frame 24 as shown in FIG. 1 are independent and separable, however it is only necessary that components 21a and 21b be wholly independent for achieving the objective of transformability. Other valid embodiments can include effective fusions of two or more components like said frame 24 to said long horizontal piece 22.

The components of the first embodiment can be arranged into the form of a couch as can be seen in FIG. 1. The long horizontal piece 22 provides a seating surface. The wedge-like pieces 21a and 21b provide an area for a user or users to rest their backs. The wedge-like pieces 21a and 21b are supported by the vertical support piece 23 which in turn is supported by the frame 24. The couch-forming arrangement of wedge-like pieces 21a and 21b, the vertical support piece 23, and the frame 24 can also be seen in plan view in FIG. 2. The rectangular side pieces 25a and 25b provide support as arm rests on the sides as illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 shows how long horizontal piece 22 and vertical support piece 23 are supported by the frame 24 in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows how each wedge-like piece 21a or 21b is independent from the other components which is key to the transformational abilities of the first embodiment. The wedge-like piece or pieces can be arranged in several positions as illustrated in FIGS. 6A through 6E. As can be seen in FIG. 7 the wedge-like pieces 21a and 21b can also be placed perpendicular to the long axis of the long horizontal piece 22.

In combination with the rotational variations, the geometry of the wedge-like pieces 21a and 21b allow for a variety of configurations because the dimensions of the components relative to each other provide for it. Specifically, the wedge-like pieces 21a and 21b have a width equivalent to the depth of the long horizontal piece 22 so that, as seen in FIG. 7, the wedge-like pieces fully span the long horizontal piece from front to back. The width of the vertical support piece 23, as can be seen in FIG. 2, is equivalent to the combined widths of the two wedge-like pieces 21a and 21b juxtaposed. Transitively, the width of the vertical support piece 23 is equal to twice the depth of the long horizontal piece 22.

In detail, FIG. 2. illustrates key dimensions in relation to each other. The width value w of one wedge-like piece 21a or 21b is equal to the depth d of the long horizontal piece 22. The width w of one wedge-like piece is also equal to one half of the width v of the vertical support piece 23.

One side of the wedge-like pieces 21a and 21b is of the same dimensions as a long side of the rectangular side pieces 25a and 25b, as illustrated in FIG. 8, so that the combination of one of the wedge-like pieces with one of the rectangular side pieces in this manner will create a continuous form that can provide a head rest. As illustrated in FIG. 7, it can also provide a platform for creating a chaise longue by incorporating or stacking the second wedge-like piece to create an inclined surface. In this formation the adjacent rectangular side piece 25a provides a support for the user's elbow. FIG. 7 also shows how the other rectangular form 25b is repositioned thereby completing the chaise longue form. A user can now use the chaise longue in a variety of ways including sitting along the long axis of the horizontal piece 22 and resting his or her back on the stacked wedge-like pieces 21a and 21b or alternatively resting to one side, higher up, with the torso on the wedge-like pieces and an elbow on the rectangular side piece 25a.

FIG. 9 illustrates how the rectangular side piece 25b (and 25a) is attached to the long horizontal piece 22 in the first embodiment. The attachment is solely along one corner edge of the long horizontal piece 22 to a corner edge of each rectangular side piece 25a and 25b. This line of attachment creates an axis or pivoting line that allows the rectangular side pieces 25a and 25b to roll around to a lower position and hang from the line of attachment.

Completely removing both of the wedge-like pieces and rolling both rectangular side pieces 25a and 25b to their lower hanging positions creates an unobstructed space across the long horizontal piece 22 as is illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11. This arrangement creates a small comfortable bed.

I presently contemplate the frame 24 in the first embodiment comprising steel tubing and plywood however it may be made of other materials such as plastic or simply metal only, or incorporated more permanently with some of the cushioned components as long as the functions heretofore described are not impeded. As illustrated in FIG. 11, the frame of the first embodiment, made of welded steel tubes 26, supports and combines two planes of plywood, a horizontal plywood piece 27 and a vertical plywood piece 28.

I presently contemplate the rectangular side pieces 25a and 25b are attached along one corner's edge by being of the same continuous fabric material used in the long horizontal piece 22 but, as illustrated in FIG. 12, can be connected by a zipper 29 in an alternate embodiment.

I presently contemplate the use of rectangular side pieces with first embodiment, however an alternative embodiment shown in FIGS. 14, 15, and 16 differs in that it functions fully without the use of the rectangular side pieces. This embodiment similarly provides a platform for a transformable furniture piece into the options of a couch form, a chaise longue form, or a small bed. The couch form of the this embodiment is a couch form without arm rests. The chaise longue form of the this embodiment is a chaise longue without an elbow support.

I presently contemplate the wedge-like pieces to have a profile of an exact triangle however the wedge-like piece can have one more truncated corners as shown in FIG. 17A and FIG. 17B or rounded corners as shown in FIG. 17C.

Conclusion, Ramifications, and Scope

Accordingly the reader will see that, according to one embodiment, I have provided a novel article of furniture that can be transformed into a minimum of three configurations, and can be transformed more easily without the need of expensive or complex mechanical components, and can be transformed without requiring a substantial change in occupied floor space. The unique geometry of the independent components, that can combine in various manners to create various furniture types, provides a more affordable transformable furniture piece for the average consumer. Employing unique geometry instead of complex mechanical components costs much less and is a major advantage over current transformable furniture pieces.

While the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any embodiment, but as exemplifications of the presently preferred embodiments thereof Many other ramifications and variations are possible within the teachings of the various embodiments. For example, variant but true forms of a couch, chaise longue, and bed are achievable without the presence of the rectangular side pieces; some of the various independent components can be effectively fused together in to singular forms such as the frame and the long horizontal piece, etc.

Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, and not by the examples given.

Claims

1. An article of furniture comprising:

a) a supporting frame,

b) cushioned seating piece,

c) a back support piece, and

d) a pair of separable cushioned wedge-like pieces,

whereby the dimensions of the all the pieces are calibrated such that the simple adjustment of the location of said wedge-like pieces can transform the furniture piece into a couch, a chaise longue, or a bed.

2. The article of furniture of claim 1 wherein said wedge-like pieces provide the back rest of said couch when placed upright against the back support piece.

3. The article of furniture of claim 1 wherein said wedge-like pieces provide a reclining area of the chaise longue when said wedge-like pieces are stacked so as to create an inclined form perpendicular to the back support piece that spans the entire depth of said cushioned seating piece.

4. The article of furniture of claim 1 wherein the dimension of the width of the back support piece is equal to the width of two said wedge-like pieces juxtaposed, whereby two said wedge-like pieces are fully supported by the back support piece.

5. The article of furniture of claim 1 wherein the dimension of the depth the seating piece is equal to the width of said wedge-like piece,

whereby said wedge-like pieces span the entire depth of the seating area when turned 90 degrees on a horizontal axis, rotated along a vertical axis and stacked to configure the chaise longue.

6. The article of furniture of claim 1 wherein the wedge-like pieces are completely removable, whereby the resulting configuration is a bed.

7. An article of furniture comprising:

a) a supporting frame,

b) cushioned seating piece,

c) a back support piece, and

d) a pair of separable cushioned wedge-like pieces,

e) a pair of cushioned rectangular side pieces,

whereby the dimensions of the all the pieces are calibrated such that the simple adjustment of the location of said wedge-like pieces and said rectangular side pieces can transform the furniture piece into a couch, a chaise longue, or a bed.

8. The article of furniture of claim 7 wherein said wedge-like pieces provide the back rest of said couch when placed upright against the back support piece.

9. The article of furniture of claim 7 wherein said wedge-like pieces provide a reclining area of the chaise longue when said wedge-like pieces are stacked so as to create an inclined form perpendicular to the back support piece that spans the entire depth of said cushioned seating piece.

10. The article of furniture of claim 7 wherein the dimension of the width of the back support piece is equal to the width of two said wedge-like pieces juxtaposed,

whereby two said wedge-like pieces are fully supported by the back support piece.

11. The article of furniture of claim 7 wherein said side pieces are completely removable.

12. The article of furniture of claim 7 wherein said side pieces are connected to said seating piece by continuous fabric.

13. The article of furniture of claim 7 wherein said side pieces are connected to said seating piece by zippers.

14. The article of furniture of claim 7 wherein said side pieces are connected to said seating piece by fabric or zippers and is pivotable along the line of connection,

whereby said side pieces can move back and forth between sitting on top of the seating piece to hanging beside it.

15. The article of furniture of claim 7 wherein the dimension of the depth the seating piece is equal to the width of said wedge-like piece,

whereby said wedge-like piece span the entire depth of the seating area when turned 90 degrees on a horizontal axis, rotated along a vertical axis and stacked as part of the configuration of said chaise longue.

16. The article of furniture of claim 7 wherein said wedge-like pieces are completely removable, whereby the resulting configuration is said bed when said side pieces are also removed or rotated to a lower position.

17. The article of furniture of claim 7 wherein said wedge-like piece shares two dimensional values with said rectangular side piece so that said wedge-like piece and rectangular piece have a planar face of equal area and equal linear dimensions and where the two faces can butt join and create a topologically smooth transition from one piece to the other increasing the comfort of the total form.