Object of the invention
[0001] This invention refers to an armchair or sofa that incorporates a reclining backrest
where a headrest is located with a mechanism that enables it to be retractable, so
that it can be folded down to be hidden behind the backrest of the armchair without
it being possible to be detected or deployed to be used as a complement to the backrest
to support the head. It finds a special application in the field of the armchair manufacturing
industry.
State of the art
[0002] The lounge furniture industry has evolved greatly since its beginnings when the robustness
of sofas and armchairs prevailed. This has progressively given way to designs that
try to solve the shortage of space in homes. A subsequent step has consisted of implementing
elements which, although they may not be entirely acceptable aesthetically, have been
deemed to provide great comfort to the user. One of these elements is the one outlined
in this descriptive report. It is based on the fact that sofas and armchairs normally
have a backrest that does not cover the head, but only the back, so that rest in this
type of furniture is intended for the user to remain seated only on it.
[0003] Document
US3275374 describes an upholstered piece of furniture comprising a headrest that can be fixed
in an operative position above the backrest or moved below a positive guide from above
the backrest to a cavity therein. This document applies preferably to seats whose
backrests comprise a rear section and a front section which receives or represents
the backrest cushion itself. In this case, the cavity intended to receive the headrest
in its inoperative position is conveniently formed by a recess in -at least- one of
the contact surfaces of the front and rear sections of the backrest of the chair.
In one embodiment of document
US3275374, the headrest is secured to -at least- one support that articulates in the rear section
of the backrest of the chair in a similar way to a hinge. However, the headrest can
be fastened to a support that slides with sliding pins or studs on guide rails located
inside the backrest. In another suitable form of construction, the headrest is connected
to the backrest by means of a guide link of the parallelogram type.
[0004] However, this invention as described in the attached claims solves a problem that
is not yet solved in the prior art by presenting a sofa that incorporates a reclining
headrest hidden in the backrest so that, in order to be used, one just needs to fold
down the backrest, deploy the headrest and return the backrest to its position of
use, thus combining traditional aesthetics with the comfort sought.
Explanation of the invention
[0005] In order to achieve the objectives and avoid the disadvantages mentioned above, this
invention describes a sofa with a reclining backrest comprising a structure formed
by a back structure and a seat structure, in addition to the reclining backrest itself
and a seat.
[0006] Although the sofa can be divided into several modules and incorporate several backrests
and seats, for greater simplicity in the wording, the sofa will be deemed to consist
of a single backrest and seat, as an armchair, although it can incorporate several
backrests and seats without this signifying a variation in the object of the invention.
[0007] The sofa additionally comprises a headrest attached to the backrest, and a mechanism
responsible for providing the capacity for movement to both the headrest and the backrest.
The mechanism, which is preferably metallic, is formed by bases, by means of which
they are attached to the rear structure of the sofa, from which two extensions protrude,
as well as a backrest structure and a headrest structure.
[0008] The backrest structure is formed by first bars located at the side ends of the backrest
and attached by means of extension bars intended to provide the required rigidity
to the backrest.
[0009] The headrest structure, for its part, is responsible for providing rigidity to the
headrest.
[0010] With this configuration of the mechanism, the ends of the first bars incorporate
two articulations by means of which the first ends are attached to the corresponding
extensions of the base and second ends are attached to the headrest structure, so
that the backrest can be folded with respect to the rear structure of the sofa and
the headrest can be folded with respect to the backrest. In this way, a user can fold
down the backrest of the sofa to bring it close to the front area and, from this position,
fold down the headrest to remove it and return the backrest to its position of use
with the headrest already removed. The user may thus manipulate the headrest in a
very ergonomic and natural way, without the need to bend towards the backrest area
or having to adopt uncomfortable positions on very deep sofas that can cause discomfort
or even back pain.
[0011] The sofa with reclining backrest of the invention can also incorporate a first recess
located in the backrest and a second recess located in the rear structure. The recesses
are intended to accommodate the headrest when it is in the folded position.
Brief description of the drawings
[0012] To complete the description of the invention and in order to help with a better understanding
of its characteristics, in accordance with an example of a preferred embodiment of
the same, a set of drawings is attached, in which the following figures are shown
for illustrative and nonlimiting purposes:
- Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the sofa of the invention with two backrests
and two seats, the headrests being folded.
- Figure 2 represents a perspective view of figure 1 with a headrest deployed.
- Figure 3 represents a side view of the sofa represented in figure 1 where the folded
headrest can be seen.
- Figure 4 represents a side view of the sofa with the backrest in the first step of
being folded down.
- Figure 5 represents a side view of the sofa with the backrest in the second step of
being folded down, where the headrest has begun to be removed from the backrest.
- Figure 6 represents a side view of the sofa where the headrest has been completely
deployed with respect to the backrest and the backrest has been brought to its initial
position.
- Figure 7 represents a perspective view of the sofa with one of the backrests folded
down, showing the structure of the folding mechanism and the recesses for locating
the headrest.
- Figure 8 represents a perspective view of the folding mechanism when the sofa is in
its resting position.
- Figure 9 represents a perspective view of the folding mechanism when the sofa is in
its folding position with the headrest not deployed.
- Figure 10 represents a perspective view of the folding mechanism when the sofa is
in its resting position with the headrest deployed.
[0013] A list of the references employed in the figures is provided below:
- 1.
- Headrest.
- 2.
- Backrest.
- 3.
- Seat.
- 4.
- Rear structure.
- 5.
- Seat structure.
- 6.
- First recess.
- 7.
- Second recess.
- 8.
- Base.
- 9.
- Extensions.
- 10.
- Articulation.
- 11.
- Backrest structure.
- 12.
- First bars.
- 13.
- Extension bars.
- 14.
- Headrest structure.
Description of a preferred embodiment of the invention
[0014] This invention refers to a sofa with a structure formed by means of a rear structure
(4) and a seat structure (5), which support, respectively, at least one backrest (2)
and the corresponding seats (3). The sofa has the peculiarity that it also incorporates
a retractable headrest (1) hidden in each of the backrests (2), that can be deployed
so that the user can rest his/her head.
[0015] In this way, the sofa can go from the situation represented in figure 1, with the
headrest (1) folded and housed in recesses (6, 7), remaining hidden from view, to
the situation represented in figure 2, with the headrest (1) deployed ready for a
user to rest his/her head when he/she sits down.
[0016] In the resting position, the backrest (2) rests on the rear structure (4) of the
sofa. In order to be able to deploy the headrest (1), the backrest (2) of the sofa
can be folded at the area where it joins the seat (3).
[0017] The process of deploying the headrest (1) is represented in figures 3 to 6.
[0018] Figure 3 represents a side view of the sofa with the headrest (1) incorporated in
folding form.
[0019] It can be seen how, in order to make the most of space and to avoid unnecessary increases
in the dimensions of the sofa, the backrest (2) incorporates recesses (6, 7) where
part of the headrest (1) is housed. These recesses (6, 7) are more clearly represented
in figure 7.
[0020] Figure 4 shows the first step in the folding of the backrest (2), leaving the headrest
(1) accessible to be deployed.
[0021] In figure 5, the backrest (2) is completely folded, and the headrest (1) has already
been deployed, tending to occupy its final position with respect to the backrest (2).
It can be seen how the folding to extract the headrest (1) of the backrest (2) can
be performed from a position where a user does not have to adopt uncomfortable positions
that can cause back problems, especially in very deep sofas, but is done standing
in front of the sofa in a natural position.
[0022] Figure 6 represents the sofa in the position of use with the headrest (1) already
fully deployed, according to figure 2, where the backrest (2) has been folded back
to its initial position of use.
[0023] Figure 7 shows the backrest (2) folded back with the headrest (1) deployed, where
the folding mechanism can be seen, as well as a first recess (6) located in the backrest
(2) and a second recess (7) located in the rear structure (4) of the sofa.
[0024] Figures 8 to 10 show the deployment sequence of the mechanism of the invention. The
mechanism is preferably symmetrical and comprises bases (8) intended to be attached
to the rear end of the sofa on the rear structure (4). Extensions (9), which extend
into the seat structure (5) protrude from the bases (8).
[0025] The headrest (1) incorporates a headrest structure (14), which gives it rigidity,
and the elements required for the transmission of movement with respect to the backrest
(2). The backrest (2), for its part, also incorporates a backrest structure (11) formed
by first bars (12) located at the side ends of the backrest (2) and attached by means
of extension bars (13) that gives the backrest (2) the required rigidity.
[0026] The ends of the first bars (12) end in articulations (10) by means of which some
of the ends are attached to the corresponding extensions (9) of the base (8) and the
other ends are attached to the headrest structure (14). In this way, the articulations
(10) enable the headrest (1) to be folded with respect to the backrest (2) and the
backrest (2) to be folded with respect to the sofa.
[0027] Finally, it should be noted that this invention should not be seen to be limited
to the embodiment described herein. Other configurations can be realised by those
skilled in the art in light of this description. Accordingly, the scope of the invention
is defined by the following claims.
1. Sofa with reclining backrest comprising a structure formed by a rear structure (4)
and a seat structure (5), in addition to the reclining backrest (2) itself and a seat
(3), the sofa being
characterised in that it comprises:
a headrest (1) attached to the backrest (2), and
a mechanism comprising bases (8), which are attached to the rear structure (4), from
which two extensions (9) protrude, a backrest structure (11) formed by first bars
(12) located in the side ends of the backrest (2) and attached by means of extension
bars (13) that give the backrest (2) the rigidity required, a headrest structure (14)
that gives the headrest (1) rigidity, wherein:
the ends of the first bars (12) end in two articulations (10) by means of which the
first ends are attached to the corresponding extensions (9) of the base (8) and second
ends attach to the headrest structure (14), so that the backrest (2) can be folded
with respect to the rear structure (4) and the headrest (1) can be folded with respect
to the backrest (2).
2. Sofa with reclining backrest, according to claim 1, characterised because it comprises:
a first recess (6) located in the backrest (2),
a second recess (7) located in the rear structure (4),
the recesses (6, 7) being intended to house the headrest (1) when it is in the folded
position.
3. Sofa with reclining backrest, according to claim 1, characterised because the elements
that the mechanism is made of are metallic.