Furniture unit constituted by a liftable desk and by a bed which alternately fold away

Abstract

 A furniture unit comprising a desk member and a bed member articulated to a support structure and defining at least two positions, a desk position, wherein said furniture unit is used essentially as a desk, and a bed position, wherein said furniture unit is used essentially as a bed, in said desk position said desk member is horizontal and located in said support structure at a height suitable for use as a desk, said bed member being substantially in a vertical position behind said desk member, in said bed position, said desk member being horizontal and in an upper position with respect to said height, said bed member being horizontal in a position suitable for use as a bed, said desk member being sufficiently out of the way for allowing the use of said bed member by a user.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a furniture unit constituted by a liftable desk and by a bed which alternately fold away.

[0002] More particularly, the present invention relates to a furniture unit which is constituted by a desk, on which it is possible to stably place bulky objects such as for example a computer with its accessories, including the monitor, and by a bed, which is rested vertically on its longer side behind the desk. When the bed is required, the desk is lifted and by rising so as to remain perfectly horizontal at all times, by virtue of a suitable kinematic system constituted by levers, it allows to leave in place everything that is placed on the desktop even in the case of bulky objects, and the bed folds out and occupies the space previously occupied by the desk, which in the meantime has stopped in an elevated position, above the bed; by folding the bed backward again and lowering the desk again, the initial position is restored. All this is achieved by virtue of simple, practical and safe movements.

[0003] This invention meets the constant need to have products which are converted by virtue of simple movements, performing multiple functions and allowing maximum utilization of spaces; this is certainly a strongly felt requirement in the field of furniture and more particularly for children's rooms or rooms of communities or hotels, where objects having multiple functions are indispensable because space is truly essential.

[0004] Many solutions have been presented through the years to solve the above mentioned space problems, but so far no product has tackled the problem like the invention does. The solutions proposed so far do not provide for a desk which, even when not in use, does not require removing the objects placed on it and in particular bulky objects such as for example a computer with its accessories and a monitor.

[0005] Another drawback of known inventions is that there are no units which can be inserted in arch-shaped furniture, where the arch itself is used to conceal one of the functions offered by the unit.

[0006] Another drawback of known inventions is that even when a unit contains a bed, it is not always capable of offering a bed which is comfortable from any point of view and is sprung or made of latex or wool or of any other material and has the dimensions and thicknesses that are typical of an ordinary bed.

[0007] Another drawback of known inventions is that the units are not always easy to operate and modest in cost.

[0008] The aim of the present invention is to obviate these and other drawbacks by providing a furniture unit which is constituted by a liftable desk and by a bed which alternately fold away and in which, when the desk is raised, it is not necessary to clear it of bulky objects such as for example a computer with its accessories and monitor.

[0009] More particularly, an object of the present invention is to provide a furniture unit which is not only easy to insert in arch-shaped assemblies but in which the arch itself is used to conceal the desk function offered by the unit.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a furniture unit which contains a true bed, made of latex, sprung, made of wool or other materials, whose dimensions and thickness are equal to those of an ordinary bed.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a furniture unit at significantly low costs and which can be actuated in a very simple manner.

[0012] This aim, these objects and others are achieved by the furniture unit constituted by a liftable desk and by a bed which alternately fold away, according to the present invention, which essentially includes a structure made of quadrangular metal tubes which is composed of: two shaped horizontal front supports which are rigidly coupled to, and co-planar with, two shaped rear posts which provide ground resting and support for the articulations; three rear connecting cross-members, of which one is arranged in a downward region and the others are in an upward region and act as mattress retainers and spacers; three pairs of co-planar shaped articulated arms which are meant to provide support and produce the translatory motion of the desktop; a bedspring which rotates about two pivots which are pivoted to the two horizontal supports.

[0013] The first pair of shaped arms is internally pivoted at the upper end of the two posts and is articulated, at its other end, to the second pair of arms, which is in turn articulated, at its other end, to the third pair, which is pivoted to the two posts at its other end. Two cross-members, acting as support for the desktop, are rigidly coupled to the second pair of shaped arms.

[0014] Initially, the unit has the desk in the position for use, allowing to place bulky objects, such a- for example the computer with its monitor, on the desk, and the bed is overturned vertically on its longer side behind the desk and is retained by the metal connecting cross-member of the fixed structure, which also locks the bed in its inactive position.

[0015] When the bed is required, the desktop is lifted by pushing upward the longer front side of the desktop; the movement is advantageously facilitated for example by two spring/damper units which are arranged appropriately. The desk performs a translatory motion so as to remain horizontal at all times, rotates by being supported by the three pairs of articulated arms, which are pivoted to each other and to the pair of posts, and is locked, after rotating through 90°, in the raised position, leaving free the space for the bed below it. If the furniture unit has been conveniently inserted in an arch-like assembly, it is possible to insert the desk, with everything that lies on it, in the door-paneled portion that lies above the arch, which is conveniently modified.

[0016] After lifting the desk, the bed, up to that time inactive and vertical against the upper cross-members, being gripped along its longer side, rotates, by turning about the pivots, until it locks in a horizontal position; two plates, which are advantageously welded to the pair of shaped horizontal supports, act as retainers for the bedspring and two mattress containment sides, made of light metal rod and rigidly coupled to the bedspring, act as retainers for the desk when it is in the raised position.

[0017] In order to return to the initial position, it is sufficient to fold away the bed and lower the desktop, which descends so as to remain horizontal at all times, until one pair of the shaped supporting arms stops against the two plates that are rigidly coupled to the pair of horizontal supports, reoccupying the space below it, which has been cleared in the meantime.

[0018] These and other characteristics of the furniture unit constituted by a liftable desktop and by a bed which alternately fold away, according to the present invention, will become apparent during the following description of a preferred but nonlimitative embodiment thereof, given with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein;

Figure 1 is a schematic transverse sectional view of the unit in the closed and open configurations;

Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the unit in the desktop position;

Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the unit in the bed position.

[0019] With reference to the above figures, the unit according to the invention essentially has a structure made of quadrangular metal tube, which is composed of: a pair of shaped horizontal supports 1, which is rigidly coupled, for example by welding, to a pair of shaped rear posts 2 which is co-planar thereto; and a lower cross-member 3 and an upper cross-member 4, which are rigidly coupled, for example by welding, to the two rear posts 2, acting as a spacer.

[0020] The unit furthermore has three pairs of mutually articulated co-planar arms. The first pair of arms 6, to which the cross-member 7 is rigidly coupled, for example by welding, is pivoted at one end to the pair of shaped posts 2 by virtue of the pair of pivots 5 rigidly coupled thereto, and is anchored at its other end, for example by welding, to the pair of articulations 8, which are also easily commercially available and to which the second pair of L-shaped lever arms 9 is also rigidly coupled; the cross-members 10 and 11 are rigidly coupled to the lever arms, for example by welding, acting as a linkage between the arms and as a support for the desktop 12, which is anchored to them by virtue of screws or equivalent retention systems.

[0021] The pair of articulations 13 is anchored, for example by welding, to the other end of the pair of arms 9; the third pair of L-shaped arms 14 is also rigidly coupled to the articulations 13 and is pivoted, at its other end, to the pair of posts 2 by virtue of the pair of pivots 15 rigidly coupled thereto. The pair of bushes 16 is rigidly coupled to the shaped horizontal structure 1, for example by welding, and the cross-member 18 is pivoted to the pair of bushes by virtue of the pair of pivots 17, is made of quadrangular metal tube and is arranged inside the pair of horizontal supports 1. The pair of shaped seats 19 is rigidly coupled to the cross-member 18, for example by welding, and is also rigidly coupled, for example by welding, to the bedspring 20, which is made of quadrangular metal tube and is suitable to receive the conventional supporting members for the mattress 21.

[0022] The bedspring 20, arranged inside the pairs of articulated arms 6, 9 and 14, is adequately spaced from the cross-member 18, so that the cladding panel 22 can be easily inserted between the bedspring 20, to which it is anchored by virtue of screws or equivalent retention systems, and the cross-member 18.

[0023] The pair of spring/damper units 24 is articulated to the lower part of the pair of posts 2 about the pair of pivots 23 rigidly coupled thereto; the pair of spring/damper units is articulated at its other end, by virtue of the pair of pivots 25, to the third pair of arms 14, to which the pivots 25 are rigidly coupled.

[0024] The pair of lugs 26, made for example of metal plate, is furthermore rigidly coupled, for example by welding, to the pair of shaped horizontal supports 1; the lugs act as supports for the third pair of shaped arms 14 and accordingly for the desktop 12, which is rigidly coupled to the second pair of arms 9, which is pivoted to, and co-planar with, the third pair of arms 14 by virtue of the pair of articulations 13. The desktop 12 is kept horizontal not only by the pairs of arms 14 and 9 but also by the first pair of shaped arms 6, which is pivoted to, and co-planar with, the second pair of arms 9 by virtue of the pair of articulations 8 at one end and is pivoted and internal to the pair of rear posts 2 by virtue of the pair of pivots 5 at its other end. In order to change from the condition in which the desk 12 is in the active position and the bedspring 20 and the corresponding mattress 21 are in the inactive position, that is to say, vertical and to the rear of the desk, to the condition in which the desk 12 has moved upward so as to remain at all times horizontal and the bedspring 20 and the corresponding mattress 21 are rotated horizontally into the active position, it is simply sufficient to push upward the desktop 12, so that the parallelogram whose corners are the pairs of pivots 15, 5 and the pairs of articulations 13, 8 unfolds upward, assisted by the action of the pair of spring/damper units 24, until it stops after rotating through 90°.

[0025] By turning through 90° the bedspring 20 and the associated mattress 21, which are rigidly coupled by virtue of the pairs of seats 19 to the cross-member 18 which is pivoted by virtue of the pair of pivots 17 to the pair of bushes 16 which is rigidly coupled to the pair of horizontal supports 1, the bedspring arranges itself horizontally in the position for use, stopping against the pair of lugs 26, which are also rigidly coupled to the pair of horizontal supports 1. The pair of seats 19 thus rotated arranges itself below the third pair of arms 14, thus preventing any rotation thereof and therefore avoiding even accidental descent of the desktop 12 raised by the movement of the three pairs of arms 6, 9 and 14 and providing in practice a perfect safety lock of the extended kinematic system.

[0026] The desktop 12 and all the objects rested thereon, even if they are considerably bulky, such for example a computer, are thus repositioned easily, safely and practically without any effort, freeing space which is occupied alternately by the bedspring 20 and by the corresponding mattress 21.

[0027] Advantageously, the lifting of the desktop 12 occurs so as to allow the refinement of repositioning it below the usual undersurface of any arch-like wardrobes, so that by simply arranging the undersurface 27 of the wardrobe, if provided, at a higher level, the objects that are present on the desktop 12 are concealed from sight by the doors 28 of the arch-like wardrobe, if provided.

[0028] To return to the position for using the desk, it is sufficient to raise the bedspring 20 and the corresponding mattress 21, so that by rotating about the pairs of pivots 17 they reposition themselves vertically and are retained by the cross-member 4. The safety lock constituted by the position of the seats 19 is thus deactivated and the three pairs of mutually articulated arms 6, 9 and 14 can rotate in reverse through 90° until the pair of arms 14 rests against the pair of lugs 26, returning the desktop 12, which is kept constantly horizontal, to the initial position for use, the space below it having been left free by the bedspring in the meantime.

[0029] All this occurs with simple actions, in absolute safety and with a modest energy expenditure, since the action of the pair of spring/damper units 24 removes practically all weight from the conversion of the unit according to the present invention from desk to bed.

[0030] The invention as described above has been proposed merely by way of example, it being understood that it can be susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are in any case within the scope of the present invention; by applying small or more refined modifications, corrections and refinements, the unit can be applied in other fields as well.

Claims

1. A furniture unit characterized in that it comprises a desk member and a bed member articulated to a support structure, said desk member and said bed member defining at least two positions, a desk position, wherein said furniture unit is used essentially as a desk, and a bed position, wherein said furniture unit is used essentially as a bed, in said desk position said desk member is horizontal and located in said support structure at a height suitable for use as a desk, said bed member being substantially in a vertical position behind said desk member, in said bed position, said desk member being horizontal and in an upper position with respect to said height, said bed member being horizontal in a position suitable for use as a bed, said desk member being sufficiently out of the way for allowing the use of said bed member by a user.

2. The furniture unit according to claim 1, wherein said support structure comprises quadrangular metal tubes, two shaped horizontal front supports which are rigidly coupled to, and co-planar with, two shaped rear posts which provide ground resting and support for the articulations; three rear connecting cross-members, of which one is arranged in a downward region and the others are in an upward region and act as mattress retainers and spacers; three pairs of co-planar shaped articulated arms adapted to provide support and produce the translatory motion of the desktop; a bedspring which rotates about two pivots which are pivoted to the two horizontal supports.

3. The unit according to claim 2, wherein said first pair of shaped arms is internally pivoted at the upper end of the two posts and is articulated, at its other end, to the second pair of arms, which is in turn articulated, at its other end, to the third pair, which is pivoted to the two posts at its other end.

4. The unit according to claim 3, having two cross-members, acting as support for the desktop, are rigidly coupled to the second pair of shaped arms.

5. The unit according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein, the bed position is attained by lifting the desk member by pushing upward the longer front side of the desk member; the movement being facilitated by two spring/damper units, said desk member performing a translatory motion so as to remain horizontal at all times, after lifting the desk member, the bed member being gripped along its longer side, rotating, by turning about the pivots, until it locks in a horizontal position; two plates being welded to the pair of shaped horizontal supports, and acting as retainers for the bedspring and two mattress containment sides, made of light metal rod and rigidly coupled to the bedspring, acting as retainers for the desk member when it is in the raised position; in order to return to the desk position, it is sufficient to fold away the bed and lower the desktop, which descends so as to remain horizontal at all times, until one pair of the shaped supporting arms stops against the two plates that are rigidly coupled to the pair of horizontal supports, reoccupying the space below it, which has been cleared in the meantime.

6. The unit, according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a pair of shaped horizontal supports (1) which is rigidly coupled to a pair of shaped rear posts (2) which is co-planar thereto; a lower cross-member (3) and an upper cross-member (4) which are rigidly coupled to the pair of lower posts (2), acting as a spacer.

7. The unit according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it furthermore has three pairs of co-planar and mutually articulated arms; the first pair of arms (6), to which the cross-member (7) is rigidly coupled, is pivoted at one end to the pair of shaped posts (2) by virtue of the pair of pivots (5) rigidly coupled thereto, and is anchored at its other end to the pair of articulations (8) to which the second pair of L-shaped lever arms (9) is rigidly coupled, the cross-members (10) and (11) being rigidly coupled to said arms (9) and being adapted to connect the arms and to support the desktop (12), which is anchored thereto, the pair of articulations (13) being anchored to the other end of the pair of arms (9); the third pair of L-shaped arms (14) being rigidly coupled to said pair of articulations (13) and being pivoted, at its other end, to the pair of posts (2) by virtue of the pair of pivots (15) which is rigidly coupled thereto.

8. The unit according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pair of bushes (16) is rigidly coupled to the shaped horizontal structure (1); the cross-member (18) being pivoted to said pair of bushes by virtue of the pair of pivots (17), being arranged inside the pair of horizontal supports (1), the pair of shaped seats (19) being rigidly coupled to said cross-member (18) and being rigidly coupled to the bedspring (20), which is suitable to receive the conventional supporting members for the mattress (21).

9. The unit according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bedspring (20), arranged inside the pairs of articulated arms (6, 9, 14) is spaced from the cross-member (18), so that the cladding panel (22) can be easily inserted between the bedspring (20), to which it is anchored, and the cross-member (18), said pair of spring/damper units (24) being articulated to the lower part of the pair of posts (2) about the pair of pivots (23) rigidly coupled thereto and are articulated, at the other end, by virtue of the pair of pivots (25), to the third pair of arms (14), to which the pivots (25) are rigidly coupled, pair of lugs (26) being rigidly coupled to the pair of shaped horizontal supports 1; said lugs acting as support for the third pair of shaped arms (14) and accordingly for the desk member (12), which is rigidly coupled to the second pair of arms (9), which is pivoted and co-planar with respect to the third pair of arms (14) by virtue of the pair of articulations (13).

10. The unit according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the desk member (12) is kept horizontal not only by the pairs of arms (14, 9) but also by the first pair of shaped arms (6) which is pivoted and co-planar with respect to the second pair of arms (9) by virtue of the pair of articulations (8) at one end and is pivoted and internal, at the other end, to the pair of rear posts (2) by virtue of the pair of pivots (5).

11. The unit according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that in order to pass from the situation in which the desk (12) is in the position for use and the bedspring (20) and the associated mattress (21) are in the inactive position, that is to say, vertical and to the rear of said desktop, to the situation in which the desk (12) has performed an upward translatory motion, remaining in a horizontal position at all times, and the bedspring (20) and the corresponding mattress (21) have been rotated horizontally into the position for use, it is sufficient to push the desktop (12) upward, so that the parallelogram whose vertices are constituted by the pairs of pivots (15), (5) and by the pairs of articulations (13), (8) extends upward, assisted by the action of the pair of spring/damper units (24), until it stops after rotating through 90°; by turning through 90° the bedspring (20) and the corresponding mattress (21), which are rigidly coupled by virtue of the pair of seats (19) to the cross-member (18), which is pivoted about the pair of pivots (17) to the pair of bushes (15) which is rigidly coupled to the pair of horizontal supports 1, said bedspring arranges itself horizontally in the position for use, locking against the pair of lugs (26), which are also rigidly coupled to the pair of horizontal supports 1, the pair of seats (19) thus rotated arranges itself below the third pair of arms (14), thus preventing any rotation thereof and therefore avoiding even accidental descent of the desktop (12) raised by the motion of the three pairs of arms (6), (9) and (14) and providing in practice a perfect safety locking of the extended kinematic system.

12. The unit according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the desktop (12) and all the objects rested thereon, even if bulky, such as for example a computer, are thus repositioned easily, safely and practically without any effort, freeing space which is alternately occupied by the bedspring (20) and by the corresponding mattress (21).

13. The unit, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the desktop (12) is raised so as to allow the refinement of repositioning it below the conventional undersurface of any arch-shaped wardrobe, so that by simply arranging at a higher level the lower surface (27) of any wardrobe the objects present on the desktop (12) are concealed from sight by virtue of the doors (28) of the arch-like wardrobe, if present.

14. The unit, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that in order to return to the position for using the desk it is sufficient to raise the bedspring (20) and the corresponding mattress (21) so that by rotating about the pairs of pivots (17) they reposition themselves vertically, being retained by the cross-member (4); the safety lock constituted by the position of the seats (19) is thus disengaged and the three pairs of mutually articulated arms (6), (9) and (14) can rotate in reverse through 90° until the pair of arms (14) rests against the pairs of lugs (26), returning the desktop (12), which is kept horizontal at all times, to the initial position for use, the space below it having been freed from the bulk of the bedspring in the meantime.

15. The unit, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the entire process occurs with simple actions, in absolute safety and with a low energy expenditure, since the action of the pair of spring/damper units (24) removes practically all weight from the conversion of the furniture unit according to the invention from a desk to a bed.

Drawing