VEHICLE SOFA-BED AND METHOD OF USE
An adjustable sofa-bed assembly for use within a vehicle such as a van or RV. The sofa-bed includes a seat portion, a back portion, and either a permanently fixed base or a removable leg portion which allows the legs to be installed into the vehicle prior to installing the seat and back portions to allow for additional elements to be installed beneath the sofa-bed, such as power elements for a powered sofa-bed assembly or for other equipment. The sofa-bed can be transformed from a sofa configuration with an upright back portion to a bed configuration with a laid-flat back portion. When in the bed configuration, the seat portion and back portion are aligned such that there is no gap between the two portions and the two portions lie completely flat, forming a complete bed assembly.
The present invention relates generally to a retractable sofa-bed and method for use thereof, and more specifically to a sofa-bed for mounting into a vehicle, its methods of installation and its methods of use.
2. Description of the Related ArtLuxury vans and recreational vehicles are often outfitted with sofas which can be transferred into beds for sleeping while traveling. Unfortunately, these sofas are rarely the most comfortable place to sleep in when converted into the bed. The conventional sofa-bed leaves a gap between the seat cushion and the back cushion when converted into the bed, and they produce a subtle “v” shape, not lying entirely flat. What is needed is an improved sofa-bed assembly for vehicles which removes the gap between the cushions and provides a completely lay-flat orientation in bed form.
Heretofore there has not been available a system or method for a sofa-bed for vehicles with the advantages and features of the present invention.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention generally provides an adjustable sofa-bed assembly for use within a vehicle. The sofa-bed includes a seat portion, a back portion, and a base. The base may be permanently mounted to the vehicle or may include a removable leg portion which allows the legs to be installed into the vehicle prior to installing the seat and back portions to allow for additional elements to be installed beneath the sofa-bed, such as power elements for a powered sofa-bed assembly or for other equipment.
The sofa-bed can be transformed from a sofa configuration with an upright back portion to a bed configuration with a laid-flat back portion. When in the bed configuration, the seat portion and back portion are aligned such that there is no gap between the two portions and the two portions lie completely flat, forming a complete bed assembly.
The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention illustrating various objects and features thereof.
As required, detailed aspects of the present invention are disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed aspects are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.
Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. For example, up, down, front, back, right and left refer to the invention as orientated in the view being referred to. The words, “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the aspect being described and designated parts thereof. Forwardly and rearwardly are generally in reference to the direction of travel, if appropriate. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar meaning.
II. Preferred Embodiment Sofa-Bed Assembly 2As shown in the figures, the present invention provides a sofa-bed assembly 2 which can be transformed from a sofa-configuration as shown in
The rear portion 8 connects to the leg assembly 12 via a pair of scissor arms 14 which allow the rear portion to be transformed from an upright sofa configuration to a laid-flat bed configuration. Similarly, the seat portion 6 is mounted to a slide 16 which allows the seat portion to slide forward as the rear portion is dropped down into the bed configuration.
In an alternative construction, the two cushions 8, 10 could be of the same thickness, with a thicker base element placed underneath of the seat cushion 10 to raise it to a flush orientation with the rear cushion 8 when in a laid-flat orientation.
The entire sofa-bed assembly 2 could be transformed from the first, sofa configuration to the second, bed configuration using manual controls or via a powered control. The sofa-bed could be connected to the power of the vehicle and a switch or other controls could be used to mechanically transform the sofa-bed between configurations. The motor 32 shown in the figures in a first orientation, such as in
The leg assembly 12 is completely adjustable to be installed within a vehicle. The height and width of the leg assembly 12 can be adjusted as needed to accommodate the vehicle and/or the bed. When being installed into the vehicle, the frame can be adjusted to fit the width and height needed for the vehicle and to accept sofa bed assemblies of various sizes.
The sliding seats 106, 108 include sliding cushions 112, 116 which extend outward from the first, seating orientation. A number of modular cushions 114, 118, and 120 may then be inserted behind the sliding cushions 112, 116 to fill in the gaps left by the sliding cushions to create a completely flush, extended sleeping surface in combination with the sofa-bed assembly 2. The sliding seats 106, 108 may be installed over the wheel wells 110 of the vehicle 104, or may be installed on the top of cabinets or other structures within the vehicle. The sliding seats 106, 108 as shown correspondent to a driver's side side-facing sliding seat 106 and a passenger's side side-facing sliding seat 108 which differ slightly in form because the vehicle shown as an example in
It is to be understood that while certain embodiments and/or aspects of the invention have been shown and described, the invention is not limited thereto and encompasses various other embodiments and aspects.
Claims
1. A sofa-bed assembly for a vehicle, the sofa-bed assembly comprising:
- a base assembly affixed to a support structure;
- said support structure connected to a sofa cushion and a rear cushion; and
- said sofa-bed assembly transformable between a first, sofa configuration and a second, bed configuration, wherein when in said second, bed configuration said sofa cushion and said rear cushion a placed adjacent to each other and are in a laid-flat configuration.
2. The sofa-bed assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
- said base assembly comprising a removable leg assembly, said removable leg assembly removably affixed to said support structure;
- said removable leg assembly removably further affixed to an interior space of the vehicle; and
- said removable leg assembly configured to be installed prior to said support structure.
3. The sofa-bed assembly of claim 2, further comprising:
- said removable leg assembly comprising an adjustable cross bar and a pair of adjustable uprights; and
- wherein said adjustable cross bar and said pair of adjustable uprights are configured to be freely adjustable to alter a height and a width of said removable leg assembly.
4. The sofa-bed assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
- said support structure comprising a sofa-seat support structure configured to support said sofa cushion, and a rear-seat support structure configured to support said rear cushion;
- said sofa-seat support structure connected to a slide element of said leg assembly; and
- said rear-seat support structure connected to a scissor-arm element of said leg assembly.
5. The sofa-bed assembly of claim 4, further comprising:
- said scissor arm assembly comprising a top plate affixed to a bottom face of said rear-seat support structure; and
- said scissor arm assembly top plate located at a vertical height relative to said sofa-seat support structure such that said top place is above said sofa-seat support structure when said sofa-bed assembly is in said second, bed configuration.
6. The sofa-bed assembly of claim 5, further comprising:
- said sofa cushion comprising a thickness of T1;
- said rear cushion comprising a thickness of T2;
- said thickness T1 being greater than thickness T2 such that a top face of said sofa cushion and a top face of said rear cushion form a level, flat, and aligned surface when said sofa-bed assembly is in said second, bed configuration; and
- wherein said sofa cushion and said rear cushion are immediately adjacent to one another in said second, bed configuration.
7. The sofa-bed assembly of claim 5, further comprising:
- a motor affixed to said support structure;
- said motor configured to activate said scissor arm, thereby sliding said slide element; and
- said motor further configured to automatically transform said sofa-bed assembly between said first, sofa configuration and said second, bed configuration.
8. A vehicle seat assembly system, the system comprising:
- a sofa-bed assembly comprising a base assembly affixed to a support structure, said support structure supporting a sofa cushion and a rear cushion;
- said sofa-bed assembly transformable between a first, sofa configuration and a second, bed configuration, wherein when in said second, bed configuration said sofa cushion and said rear cushion a placed adjacent to each other and are in a laid-flat configuration;
- a first side-facing sliding seat assembly comprising a first moveable seat cushion;
- a second side-facing sliding seat assembly comprising a second moveable seat cushion;
- said first side-facing sliding seat assembly transformable between a first, original seat configuration and a second, extended orientation;
- said second side-facing sliding seat assembly transformable between a first, original seat configuration and a second, extended orientation;
- said support structure comprising a sofa-seat support structure configured to support said sofa cushion, and a rear-seat support structure configured to support said rear cushion;
- said sofa-seat support structure connected to a slide element of said leg assembly;
- said rear-seat support structure connected to a scissor-arm element of said leg assembly;
- wherein said seat cushion of said first side-facing sliding seat assembly contacts and rests adjacent to said seat cushion of said second side-facing sliding seat assembly when both of said first side-facing sliding seat assembly and said second side-facing sliding seat assembly are in their respective extended orientation;
- wherein said sofa cushion of said sofa-bed assembly contacts and rests adjacent to said seat cushion of said first side-facing sliding seat assembly and said seat cushion of said second side-facing sliding seat assembly when said sofa-bed assembly is in said second, bed configuration; and
- wherein said sofa cushion, said seat cushion of said first side-facing sliding seat assembly and said seat cushion of said second side-facing sliding seat assembly form a flat, congruous surface.
9. The sofa-bed assembly of claim 8, further comprising:
- said base assembly comprising a removable leg assembly, said removable leg assembly removably affixed to said support structure;
- said removable leg assembly removably further affixed to an interior space of the vehicle; and
- said removable leg assembly configured to be installed prior to said support structure.
10. (canceled)
11. The sofa-bed assembly of claim 8, further comprising:
- said scissor arm assembly comprising a top plate affixed to a bottom face of said rear-seat support structure; and
- said scissor arm assembly top plate located at a vertical height relative to said sofa-seat support structure such that said top place is above said sofa-seat support structure when said sofa-bed assembly is in said second, bed configuration.
12. The sofa-bed assembly of claim 11, further comprising:
- said sofa cushion comprising a thickness of T1;
- said rear cushion comprising a thickness of T2;
- said thickness T1 being greater than thickness T2 such that a top face of said sofa cushion and a top face of said rear cushion form a level, flat, and aligned surface when said sofa-bed assembly is in said second, bed configuration; and
- wherein said sofa cushion and said rear cushion are immediately adjacent to one another in said second, bed configuration.
13. The sofa-bed assembly of claim 10, further comprising:
- a first motor affixed to said support structure;
- said motor configured to activate said scissor arm, thereby sliding said slide element;
- said first further configured to automatically transform said sofa-bed assembly between said first, sofa configuration and said second, bed configuration;
- a second motor connected to said first side-facing sliding seat assembly, said second motor configured to activate first side-facing sliding seat assembly;
- a third motor connected to said second side-facing sliding seat assembly, said second motor configured to activate said second side-facing sliding seat assembly;
- whereby said first motor is further configured to automatically transform said sofa-bed assembly between said first, sofa configuration and said second, bed configuration;
- whereby said second motor is further configured to automatically transform said first side-facing sliding seat assembly between said first, original seat configuration and said second, extended configuration; and
- whereby said third motor is further configured to automatically transform said second side-facing sliding seat assembly between said first, original seat configuration and said second, extended configuration.
14. A method of deploying transformable furniture within a vehicle, the method comprising the steps:
- installing a sofa-bed assembly within a vehicle, said sofa-bed assembly comprising a base assembly affixed to a support structure, said support structure supporting a sofa cushion and a rear cushion; and
- transforming said sofa-bed assembly from a first, sofa configuration to a second, bed configuration;
- whereby said sofa cushion of said sofa-bed assembly rests adjacent to said cushion of said first side-facing sliding seat assembly and said cushion of said second side-facing sliding seat assembly, thereby forming a flat, congruous surface.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps:
- activating a scissor arm assembly connected to said rear cushion, said scissor arm configured to raise and lower said rear cushion;
- wherein said scissor arm assembly comprising a top plate affixed to a bottom face of said rear-seat support structure; and
- wherein said scissor arm assembly top plate is located at a vertical height relative to said sofa-seat support structure such that said top place is above said sofa-seat support structure when said sofa-bed assembly is in said second, bed configuration.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein:
- said sofa cushion comprising a thickness of T1;
- said rear cushion comprising a thickness of T2;
- said thickness T1 being greater than thickness T2 such that a top face of said sofa cushion and a top face of said rear cushion form a level, flat, and aligned surface when said sofa-bed assembly is in said second, bed configuration; and
- wherein said sofa cushion and said rear cushion are immediately adjacent to one another in said second, bed configuration.
17. The method of claim 14, wherein said sofa-bed base assembly assembly comprising a removable leg assembly, said removable leg assembly removably affixed to said support structure.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps:
- installing said removable leg assembly into said vehicle prior to installing said support structure to said removable leg assembly; and
- placing an object into a space formed by said removable leg assembly prior to installing said support structure.
19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps:
- adjusting a length of a crossbar of said removable leg assembly, thereby adjusting a width of said adjustable leg assembly; and
- adjusting a height of a pair of upright members of said removable leg assembly, thereby adjusting a height of said adjustable leg assembly.
20. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps:
- installing a first side-facing sliding seat assembly within a vehicle, said first side-facing sliding seat assembly comprising a moveable seat cushion;
- installing a second side-facing sliding seat assembly, said second side-facing sliding seat assembly comprising a moveable seat cushion;
- transforming said first side-facing sliding seat assembly from a first, seat configuration to a second, extended configuration; and
- transforming said second side-facing sliding seat assembly from a first, seat configuration to a second, extended configuration;
- whereby said cushion of said first side-facing sliding seat assembly is placed into contact with and rests adjacent to said cushion of said second side-facing sliding seat assembly; and
- whereby said sofa cushion of said sofa-bed assembly is placed into contact with and rests adjacent to said cushion of said first side-facing sliding seat assembly and said cushion of said second side-facing sliding seat assembly, thereby forming a flat, congruous surface between said sofa cushion, said rear cushion, said first side-facing sliding seat assembly cushion, and said second side-facing sliding seat assembly cushion.
21. A vehicle seat assembly system, the system comprising:
- a sofa-bed assembly comprising a base assembly affixed to a support structure, said support structure supporting a sofa cushion and a rear cushion;
- said sofa-bed assembly transformable between a first, sofa configuration and a second, bed configuration, wherein when in said second, bed configuration said sofa cushion and said rear cushion a placed adjacent to each other and are in a laid-flat configuration;
- a first side-facing sliding seat assembly comprising a first moveable seat cushion;
- a second side-facing sliding seat assembly comprising a second moveable seat cushion;
- said first side-facing sliding seat assembly transformable between a first, original seat configuration and a second, extended orientation;
- said second side-facing sliding seat assembly transformable between a first, original seat configuration and a second, extended orientation;
- said support structure comprising a sofa-seat support structure configured to support said sofa cushion, and a rear-seat support structure configured to support said rear cushion;
- said sofa-seat support structure connected to a slide element of said leg assembly;
- said rear-seat support structure connected to a scissor-arm element of said leg assembly
- wherein said seat cushion of said first side-facing sliding seat assembly contacts and rests adjacent to said seat cushion of said second side-facing sliding seat assembly when both of said first side-facing sliding seat assembly and said second side-facing sliding seat assembly are in their respective extended orientation;
- wherein said sofa cushion of said sofa-bed assembly contacts and rests adjacent to said seat cushion of said first side-facing sliding seat assembly and said seat cushion of said second side-facing sliding seat assembly when said sofa-bed assembly is in said second, bed configuration; and
- wherein said sofa cushion, said seat cushion of said first side-facing sliding seat assembly and said seat cushion of said second side-facing sliding seat assembly form a flat, congruous surface.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 29, 2018
Publication Date: Mar 5, 2020
Inventor: David Slater (Elkhart, IN)
Application Number: 16/115,702