Convertible Seating Assembly With Forward-Translating Bed Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing convertible seating furniture often requires complex construction, significant space adjustments, and intricate linkage assemblies, making it costly, cumbersome, and difficult to convert between seating and sleeping configurations.
Innovation Solution
A seating furniture assembly with a pivotable back member that translates the seat member during rotation, allowing for a seamless conversion between seating and sleeping positions without the need for extensive space rearrangement, utilizing a pivot and roller system for smooth movement and a latch mechanism for secure positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the back portion is rotated onto the seat portion to convert from seating to sleeping configuration, then the furniture provides multi-functional capability, but the end of the back portion protrudes beyond the normal perimeter requiring space adjacent to the furniture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the seat portion movable relative to the back portion through a positioning assembly. Instead of the back protruding statically beyond the perimeter, the seat dynamically translates forward during rotation, keeping the furniture footprint contained within the arm members' boundaries throughout the conversion process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes dimensional change by introducing forward translation motion in addition to the rotational movement. The seat portion moves in the forward direction (along the longitudinal axis) while the back rotates, transforming a simple rotational 2D movement into a combined translation-rotation 3D movement that eliminates peripheral protrusion.
2Adaptability or versatility
If complex internal linkage assemblies with interconnected pivotable links are used to allow back rotation, then the furniture can convert between configurations, but the complexity, cost, assembly time and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex interconnected pivotable links from the system and replaces them with a simplified positioning assembly consisting of a single pivot and translation mechanism. This removes the disturbing complex linkage assembly while retaining the essential conversion functionality between seating and sleeping configurations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the seat and back are positioned to provide an upwardly facing sleeping surface, then the furniture serves as a bed, but a substantial distance from adjacent walls is required to accommodate the configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by enabling the seat portion to translate forward dynamically during the conversion process. This movement accommodates the changing geometry of the furniture as it transitions from seating to sleeping configuration, allowing the furniture to maintain a compact footprint that requires minimal clearance from walls while still forming a proper sleeping surface.
Data Source
AI summary
A seating furniture assembly that is convertible from a first position to a second position has a seat member and a back member pivotably connected to the seat member. The back member is pivotable from a first position in which the back member extends upwardly from the seat member to form a seat, and a second position in which the back member overlies the seat member and faces upwardly to form a bed. Movement of the back member from the first position to the second position translates the seat member forwardly to provide wall clearance and a support in which the seat member supports a forward area of the back member when the back member is in the second position.