Convertible sofa

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9907404-B1
Application number	US-201514929552-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Nov 2, 2015
Priority date	Oct 31, 2014
Publication date	Mar 6, 2018
Grant date	Mar 6, 2018

Abstract

A convertible sofa includes a seat and a backrest moveable between a first configuration, in which the backrest is positioned along a back of the seat, and a second configuration, in which the backrest overlies an upper support surface of the seat. The sofa also includes a side wall positioned adjacent a side of the seat to define a recess that forms a leg opening. The sofa further includes a worksurface moveable between a first position, in which the worksurface is disposed within the recess and substantially aligned with a plane defined by the upper support surface of the seat, and a second position, in which the worksurface is spaced above the plane defined by the upper support surface of the seat. At least a portion of the worksurface is covered by the backrest when the worksurface is in the first position and the backrest is in the second configuration.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A convertible sofa comprising: a seat having an upper support surface, a back, a front, a first side, and a second side; a backrest moveable between a first configuration, in which the backrest is positioned along the back of the seat, and a second configuration, in which the backrest overlies the upper support surface of the seat; a side wall, the side wall and the first side defining a recess therebetween; and a worksurface coupled to the side wall and moveable between a first position, in which the worksurface is disposed within the recess and substantially aligned with a plane defined by the upper support surface of the seat, and a second position, in which the worksurface is spaced above the plane defined by the upper support surface of the seat; wherein at least a portion of the worksurface is covered by the backrest when the worksurface is in the first position and the backrest is in the second configuration; wherein the side wall includes a side portion extending between the back and the front of the seat, and a front portion extending generally perpendicularly from the side portion toward the second side of the seat; wherein the front of the seat is a generally planar surface, wherein an inner surface of the front portion of the side wall is spaced apart a first distance from the front of the seat measured in a direction perpendicular to the front, wherein a free edge of the front portion of the side wall is spaced apart a second distance from the front of the seat measured in a direction parallel to the front, and wherein the first and second distances define a mouth between the front portion of the side wall and the front of the seat that provides access to the recess.

2. The convertible sofa of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the worksurface remains exposed when the backrest is in the second configuration to provide an end table.

3. The convertible sofa of claim 1 , wherein the worksurface moves linearly in a direction perpendicular to the plane between the first position and the second position.

4. The convertible sofa of claim 3 , further comprising:
a support positioned within the side wall, the support including a pole accessible through an opening in the side wall; and
a carriage coupled to the worksurface and to the pole of the support, the carriage moveable along the pole to move the worksurface between the first position and the second position.

5. The convertible sofa of claim 4 , wherein the carriage includes a brake that selectively engages the pole and a release actuator coupled to the brake, and wherein the release actuator is operable to disengage the brake from the pole to allow movement of the carriage along the pole.

6. The convertible sofa of claim 5 , wherein the brake includes a grip plate that is titled relative to the pole to inhibit movement of the carriage along the pole.

7. The convertible sofa of claim 1 , wherein the first side of the seat has an angled portion extending from the front toward the back of the seat, and wherein the angled portion is oriented at an acute angle relative to the back of the seat.

8. The convertible sofa of claim 7 , wherein the acute angle is between about 30 and 70 degrees.

9. The convertible sofa of claim 1 , wherein the worksurface has five edges arranged in an irregular polygonal shape when viewed from above.

10. The convertible sofa of claim 9 , wherein vertices between the five edges of the worksurface are curved.

11. The convertible sofa of claim 1 , wherein the backrest includes a first portion and a second portion that are pivotally coupled together, wherein the first and second portions are folded together when the backrest is in the first configuration, and wherein the first and second portions are unfolded to lay flat next to each other when the backrest is in the second configuration.

12. The convertible sofa of claim 11 , wherein the first and second portions of the backrest are joined together by a living hinge.

13. The convertible sofa of claim 11 , wherein the backrest is not secured to any other structures of the convertible sofa.

14. The convertible sofa of claim 11 , wherein each of the first portion and the second portion has a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surfaces of the first and second portions define a front and a back of the backrest when the backrest is in the first configuration, and wherein the second surfaces of the first and second portions face each other when the backrest is in the first configuration.

15. The convertible sofa of claim 14 , wherein the second surfaces of the first and second portions define an upper surface of the backrest when the backrest is in the second configuration.

16. The convertible sofa of claim 14 , wherein the second surfaces of the first and second portions contact each other when the backrest is in the first configuration.

17. The convertible sofa of claim 1 , wherein the side wall supports a storage tray.

18. The convertible sofa of claim 1 , wherein the side wall supports a utility outlet.

19. The convertible sofa of claim 1 , wherein the side wall supports a lighting component.

20. A method of using a convertible sofa, the method comprising: providing a seat having an upper support surface, a back, a front, a first side, and a second side, providing a side wall, the side wall and the first side defining a recess therebetween; moving a worksurface between a first position, in which the worksurface is disposed within the recess and substantially aligned with a plane defined by the upper support surface of the seat, and a second position, in which the worksurface is spaced above the plane defined by the upper support surface of the seat; and moving a backrest between a first configuration, in which the backrest is positioned along the back of the seat, and a second configuration, in which the backrest overlies the upper support surface of the seat and at least a portion of the worksurface when the worksurface is in the first position; wherein the side wall includes a side portion extending between the back and the front of the seat, and a front portion extending generally perpendicularly from the side portion toward the second side of the seat; wherein the front of the seat is a generally planar surface, wherein an inner surface of the front portion of the side wall is spaced apart a first distance from the front of the seat measured in a direction perpendicular to the front, wherein a free edge of the front portion of the side wall is spaced apart a second distance from the front of the seat measured in a direction parallel to the front, and wherein the first and second distances define a mouth between the front portion of the side wall and the front of the seat that provides access to the recess.

Assignees

• Miller Herman Inc

Inventors

• Sorel Jess
• Simon David
• Lefors Jon
• Kaney Howard
• Cruce Gary

Classifications

• A47C7/725 Primary

  for illumination, e.g. lamps · CPC title

• A47C17/1655 Primary

  forming top surface of the bed with non-rotatable seat cushion · CPC title

• A47B83/02

  Tables combined with seats {(folding or stowable tables with separable parts combined with seats A47B3/063; foldable table and seat units A47B3/14)} · CPC title

• A47C7/68

  Arm-rest tables {; or back-rest tables} · CPC title

• A47C17/04

  {Seating furniture, e.g.} sofas, couches, settees, or the like, with movable parts {changeable to beds}; Chair beds · CPC title