Object of the invention
[0001] One object of this invention is a hideaway sofa for a fold-down bed comprising a
folding mechanism configured to obtain a high-backed sofa, which is very comfortable
ergonomically, which is not expensive to manufacture, and which is as simple and straightforward
as possible, avoiding mechanisms and joints that could cause problems of breakage
or wear and tear with use.
State of the prior art
[0002] This type of fold-down bed that folds vertically exists in the state of the art.
Fold-down beds that fold in a vertical position (for example,
ES 1 149 985 U). These beds are housed in a piece of furniture and, in front of it, a sofa is located
so that, when the bed is opened, it falls onto the sofa. In this way, maximum use
is made of the space in the living room, which, in seconds, is converted into a bedroom.
[0003] However, this system has a technical problem. Before folding down the bed, the cushions
must be removed from the backrest of the sofa since, otherwise, the bed will not be
completely horizontal and, above all, there is a risk of breaking the hinges or rotating
elements of the fold-down bed.
[0004] Systems also exist in the state of the art whereby it is not necessary to remove
the cushions from the backrest, but these end up being very complex mechanisms, with
very low backrests, which are very uncomfortable ergonomically and expensive to manufacture,
and which fold the sofa by means of joints. In these cases, the height of the backrests
is limited, so that, in the end, it is also necessary to remove the backrests, otherwise
they would be very uncomfortable ergonomically. Their appearance, moreover, is closer
to a kitchen bench than a real sofa.
Description of the invention
[0005] As indicated, the object of the invention is a hideaway sofa for a fold-down bed,
the main peculiarity of which is that it is configured as a seat finished at the front
and sides and where a recess has been made in the back of the seat that will be used
so that, when the door housing the bed is folded down, the bed is introduced into
the aforementioned recess and remains hidden. In this way, the cushion does not need
to be removed from the backrest to close the mechanism, enabling a perfect ergonomic
response to be achieved. All of the above in accordance with the claims accompanying
this description.
[0006] This invention is a simple and effective technical solution. Normally, backrests
are slightly tilted to make them more comfortable to use and to make the sofa more
ergonomic, i.e., better adapted to the user's back. However, when a conventional sofa
is made, the gap left by the seat cushion is not sufficient to allow the backrest
to be introduced in the bed's opening operation. To solve this problem, the sofa of
the invention comprises a seat split into two mutually independent parts, wherein,
in a preferred embodiment, a first portion of the seat has a length equivalent to
approximately 2/3 of the total length of the seat measured from the front to the backrest
and a second portion of the seat connected to the backrest.
[0007] In a second particular embodiment, the sofa comprises a pouch in front of the backrest
solidly connected to it and resting on the second portion of the seat closest to the
backrest, in such a way that it does not fall off in the opening and closing operations.
[0008] Finally, in a third particular embodiment, the rear part of the backrest has been
modified, incorporating a triangular structure that allows the ideal inclination to
increase the comfort of the sofa without the need to incorporate a pouch and, at the
same time, to conceal the part of the seat that is cut and connected to the backrest.
As this piece is lower, it avoids increasing the depth of the sofa, allowing the backrest
cushion to rest directly on the door of the furniture.
Brief description of the drawings
[0009] The following is a very brief description of a series of drawings that help to understand
the invention better and which relate expressly to one embodiment of the invention,
which is illustrated as a non-limiting example thereof.
FIG.1 shows a first embodiment of the three positions (closed, fig.1a, intermediate,
fig.1b and open, fig.1c) of the hideaway sofa for a fold-down bed which is the object
of this invention.
FIG.2 shows a second embodiment of the three positions (closed, fig.2a, intermediate,
fig.2b and open, fig.2c) of the hideaway sofa for a fold-down bed which is the object
of this invention.
FIG.3 shows a third embodiment of the three positions (closed, fig.3a, intermediate,
fig.3b and open, fig.3c) of the hideaway sofa for a fold-down bed which is the object
of this invention.
Detailed description of a practical embodiment of the invention
[0010] As can be seen in the attached figures, the hideaway sofa for a fold-down bed, which
is the object of this invention, comprises a structure (1) made of metal or wood configured
to house a bed (2). The bed (2) is foldable between a closed position and an open
position, each of them for a differentiated use.
[0011] Thus, in the closed position -figs. 1a, 2a, 3a- the bed (2) is housed inside the
structure (1), in a perfectly vertical position, so that only the tray (21) is visible,
which acts in this case as the front enclosure of the structure (1). When one wants
to move from the closed position of the bed to the open position, the bed (2) folds
down until it is perfectly horizontal, resting on the sofa (3) -figs. 1c, 2c, 3c-,
as is known in the current state of the art.
[0012] However, in sofa beds known to date, it is necessary to remove the cushions or pillows
from the sofa (3) for the bed (2) to be completely horizontal, or use complicated
extendable mechanisms, which is not necessary in this invention.
[0013] In order to avoid having to remove the pillows or cushions of this invention, this
invention comprises a series of technical solutions combined with each other that
allow an optimal solution to be achieved in the three embodiments described in figures
1 to 3.
[0014] Thus, the seat of the sofa (3) is divided into independent parts in such a way that
a first portion (31) of the sofa (3) -which is the closest to the bed (2) in the closed
position- is jointly connected to the lower end of the bed (2) and the cushion (4)
of the backrest of the sofa (3), so that when the bed (2) is folded down, both the
first portion (31) of the sofa (3) and the cushion (4) are housed in a lower recess
(11) of the structure (1).
[0015] This essential structure is replicated in the second embodiment (fig.2), which includes
a pouch (41) jointly connected to the cushion (4) and the first portion (31) of the
sofa (3), so that when the bed (2) is folded down, the pouch (41) is also concealed
in the lower recess (11) of the structure (1).
[0016] In a third practical embodiment (fig.3), the rear part of the backrest has been modified,
incorporating a triangular structure (42) jointly connected to the cushion (4) and
the first portion (31) of the sofa (3), so that when the bed (2) is folded down, the
triangular structure (42) is also concealed in the lower recess (11) of the structure
(1).
1. Hideaway sofa for a fold-down bed comprising a bed (2) that is foldable between a
closed position, wherein the bed (2) is housed in a vertical position inside a structure
(1), and an open position, wherein the bed (2) rests in a horizontal position on a
sofa (3) and which is characterised in that the seat of the sofa (3) is divided into at least two mutually independent parts,
so that a first portion (31) of the sofa (3) is jointly connected to the lower end
of the bed (2) and the cushion (4) of the backrest of the sofa (3), so that when the
bed (2) is folded down, both the first portion (31) of the sofa (3) and the cushion
(4) remain housed in a lower recess (11) of the structure (1).
2. Hideaway sofa for a fold-down bed according to claim 1 which includes a pouch (41)
jointly connected to the cushion (4) and the first portion (31) of the sofa (3), so
that when the bed (2) is folded down, the pouch (41) remains hidden in the lower recess
(11) of the structure (1).
3. Hideaway sofa for a fold-down bed according to claims 1 and 2 wherein the rear part
of the backrest incorporates a triangular structure (42) jointly connected to the
cushion (4) and the first portion (31) of the sofa (3), so that when the bed (2) is
folded down, the triangular structure (42) remains hidden in the lower recess (11)
of the structure (1).
Amended claims in accordance with Rule 137(2) EPC.
1. Hideaway sofa with a fold-down bed (2) that is foldable between: (a) a closed position, in which the bed (2) is vertically housed inside a structure (1),
and (b) an open position, in which the bed (2) rests horizontally on a sofa (3), and wherein
the hideaway sofa with a fold-down bed (2) is characterised in that the seat of the sofa (3) is divided into at least two mutually independent parts,
so that a first portion (31) of the sofa (3), which is the closest to the fold-down
bed (2) in the closed position, is jointly connected to the lower end of the bed (2)
and a cushion (4) of the backrest of the sofa (3), so that when the bed (2) is folded
down, both the first portion (31) of the sofa (3) and the cushion (4) are hidden in
a lower recess (11) of the structure (1).
2. Hideaway sofa for a fold-down bed according to claim 1 which includes a pouch (41)
jointly connected to the cushion (4) and the first portion (31) of the sofa (3), so
that when the bed (2) is folded down, the pouch (41) remains hidden in the lower recess
(11) of the structure (1).
3. Hideaway sofa for a fold-down bed according to claims 1 and 2 wherein the rear part
of the backrest incorporates a triangular structure (42) jointly connected to the
cushion (4) and the first portion (31) of the sofa (3), so that when the bed (2) is
folded down, the triangular structure (42) remains hidden in the lower recess (11)
of the structure (1) .