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(11) | EP 2 340 744 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Monoblock furniture system comprising a bed/sofa integrated with cabinets and /or bookcase; the bed / sofa slides under the cabinet and / or modular bookcase and allows to create different areas acting alternately as living / sleeping area |
| (57) A furniture solution that optimizes space, incorporating key elements into a single
structure: bed, sofa, cabinet and / or bookcase. This monoblock is modular as it can
be composed at the discretion of the user. This system presents the bed as the nucleus
of the structure; the bed can slide longitudinally in relation to the structure. According
to the characteristics of the room, utility modules can be placed on the sides and
above the bed: cabinets, bookcase, shelves (MODULAR). It has a multipurpose use since
the created areas can alternately act either as living/sleeping area.
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FIELD OF APPLICATION
[0001] The present invention relates to a mulifunctional space-saving piece of furniture according to the carachteristics defined in the distinguishing part of claim 1.
[0002] Within the production of furniture suitable for small spaces needs and personal confort of individuals are usually sacrficed.
[0003] To meet the personal needs of individuals related to the actual space in a house, one is often forced to give up the usual furniture by making a choice between "bed" or "sofa bed", opting, in most cases for a "sofa bed" giving up, visibly and functionally, a living area.
[0004] Sofa beds are all conceived with opening and closing mechanisms in order to substantially modify space, since at the time of their opening they covers an area which, at the time of their closure, is walkable. Moreover, once the bed has been opened, the sofa/bed is not susceptible of any function other than the function of the bed itself.
[0005] There are different types of in industrial sofas classified according to their opening and closing mechanism and thus relatively to their transformation. Two main types can be identified:
- So called "clic clac" sofa beds characterized by a system that allows, through one or more hinges, the configuration of a sofa when the two parts of the structure are approximately perpendicular to each other (sofa), whereas, a bed emerges when these are configured through a locking and unlocking mechanism coplanar with one other (bed).
- So-called "folding" that is sofa beds composed of two or more parts, which folding back on each other again through the application of a double hinge, configure a bed according to two sub categories, that is in one case by sliding or by disappearing into the structure giving place to the seat of the sofa.
[0006] At the state of the art, everything related to the current "sofa bed" is characterized by a deformation of the skeleton of the structure and its accessories, first in all the mattress.
[0007] Always with reference to limited surfaces, individual choices often fall onto another furniture section, such as bookcases and work surfaces. How can one benefit of everything in small spaces?
[0008] The purpose of this invention is to provide a piece of furniture (which can be easily realized in serial production) that does'nt put the individual in the position of choosing between "sofa bed" or "bed", between cabinets or bookcases, with the inclusion or exclusion of one or more work surfaces related to personal choices in order to accomplish comfort. This aim is achieved through the realization of a bifacial monoblock composed by a bed, sofa, cabinet, bookcase and work surface. This is all made functional by a sliding mechanism of the bed below the monoblock structure outlining the configuration of two different sofas (when the bed is blocked in the middle of the upper structure) and of a bed (when the bed slides through half of itself in the direction of the area selected as sleeping area).
[0009] The characteristics of the man claims allow to achieve the object of the invention; the sub-claims present major advantages in the use of the monoblock.
ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS (BENEFITS)
[0010] The proposed invention provides several advantages both in terms of use of space and in terms of practicalness of use of the furniture components that comprise the structure: sofas / bed / cabinets / bookcase / work surface.
[0011] It also allows to divide into two different areas the single available room and it is possible to configure multiple functional solutions by easily changing (not substantially) the monoblock.
[0012] Finally, this system presents the advantage of increasing the level of comfort offered by your living area. The mattress does not deform during the sliding mechanism that involves configuring first two sofas and then the bed. This because the structure which identifies the bed itself stays stiff and it is precisely its sliding into the bifacial monoblock that gives the opportunity to have two sofas. It is possible to configure the two sofas when the structure on which the bed rests on is blocked in the middle of the monoblock, removing the view of the bed. Whereas a bed configures when the structure on which the mattress rests on slides for half of its length in the direction of one side creating on this side a sleeping area and thus configuring on the opposite side of the monoblock a living area.
[0014] All this is made possible by an opening located in the lower part of the bifacial monoblock that enables the sliding of the bed on four or more wheels. The transformation of the two sofas in a bed or vice versa define two living areas or one sleeping area.
[0015] Essentially, the invention composed by modular cabinets and bookcases consists in a bed integrated into a rigid structure bifacial monoblock. The sliding mechanism previously described permits to configure sofas or a bed and work surfaces. This idea can therefore be described as a space-saving piece of furniture with bed/sofa and not as a sofa-bed.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0016] The main object of the invention is to integrate into a single furniture solution all that a small living area needs without sacrificing space and comfort. To adapt oneself doesn't necessarily mean sacrificing oneself.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The following describe execution solutions with reference to the accompanying drawings which are to be considered as non-limiting examples of the present invention in which:
Table 1- Drawing 1 illustrates the furniture piece in accordance with the present invention as seen from the side of the CABINETS (3) with the BED / SOFA (4) blocked by an appropriate system integrated to the WHEELS (7) in the middle of the monoblock. The CUSHIONS (6) are arranged in order to configure one of the two sofas accessible from the sleeping area.
Table 1 - Drawing 2 illustrates the piece of furniture in accordance with the present invention as seen from the side of the CABINETS (3) with the possibility to modulate its components.
Table 2 - Drawing 3 illustrates the furniture piece in accordance with the present invention as seen from the side of the BOOKCASE (2) with the BED / SOFA (4) blocked, in the middle of the monoblock, by a system (e.g. manual or electrical interlocking block) integrated to the WHEELS (7). The CUSHIONS (6) are placed in order to configure one of the two sofas accessible from the living area.
Table 2/3-Drawing 4/5/6 illustrates the furniture piece in accordance with the present invention as seen from the side of the BOOKCASE (2). It is possible to modulate the components of the invention without altering the essence of the invention, increasing its capacity to reduce space.
Table 4 - Drawing 7 illustrates the PIECE OF FURNITURE (1) as seen from the side of the CLOSETS (3) in the BED/SOFAS position (4).
Table 4 -Drawing 8 illustrates the PIECE OF FURNITURE (1) as seen from the side of the CABINETS (3) in the BED position(4) immediately after having locked the WHEELS(7) again, having made the STRUCTURE slide (4) for half of its length (about 1 m)in the direction of the night area. Immediately after, the CUSHIONS (6) are removed for the convenience of the users of a bed that does not deform.
Table 5 - Drawing 9 illustrates the PIECE OF FURNITURE as seen from the side of the BOOKCASE (2). In particular, it is possible to view the sliding of the bed under the monoblock through an opening in the inferior part and at the centre of the same monoblock. The monoblock comprises a DIVIDING PANEL (5) that acts as a rigid support on which the cushions rest on when the two sofas configure.
Table 5 - Drawing 10 illustrates the PIECE OF FURNITURE as seen from the side of the BOOKCASE (2) newly configured as a sofa through the sliding of the STRUCTURE (4) and the positioning of the CUSHIONS (6) consequently to the block of the WHEELS (7).
Table 6 - Drawing 11 illustrates the PIECE OF FURNITURE (1) in the double sofa configuration determined by the central position of the structure of the bed (4). The CUSHIONS(6) lean on the dividing panel and the WHEELS(7) are blocked. Said configuration allows the full use of the living area thanks to the sofa and the BOOKCASE (2) as well as the full use of the sleeping area thanks to the sofa, and the CABINETS (3).
Table 6-Drawing 12 illustrates the PIECE OF FURNITURE(1) in the BED configuration (4) and living/work area where by flipping-over the DIVIDING PANEL this can be used as a working surface. On the sides and above the dividing panel lies the BOOKCASE (2). On the opposite side lie the CABINETS(3).
- BED (4) sliding on at least four wheels (7) of which at least two equipped with stopping system.
- Bifacial MONOBLOCK (1) comprising CABINETS (3) and BOOKCASE (2). The bifacial monoblock is equipped with an opening at the bottom centre of the monoblock of approximately the same width of the bed (4) in order to allow the bed to slide under the BIFACIAL MONOBLOCK(1).
- The DIVIDING PANEL (5) is placed at the centre of the BIFACIAL MONOBLOCK (1) in the area below the utility modules (bookcase and closets) in order to allow, by placing the CUSHIONS (6), the configuration of two different sofas when the bed is positioned and locked at the centre of the MONOBLOCK (1).
- Two different sofas and two different areas of use that is - living area (on the
side of the bookcase) and sleeping area (on the side of the cabinets).
Characterised by the fact that: the BED STRUCTURE (4) never deforming itself, configures two separate
sofas. The mattress, not enduring deformations, is realizable at will. The wheels
as well as integrating a system of locking and release of the rotation, are adjustable
in height in order to allow the sliding of the structure on which the mattress rests
through the opening underlying the DIVIDING PANEL (5).