Foldable Sofa Bed Sections With Simpler Conversion Mechanism

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing convertible furniture units that serve as beds often require intricate mechanisms and separate mattresses, making them heavy and cumbersome, while lacking in design flexibility for comfortable seating and sleeping configurations.

Innovation Solution

A seating unit with a foldable bed comprising separate head, intermediate, and seat sections, controlled by a bed folding mechanism, allowing for vertical and horizontal alignment, along with a center leg assembly and backrest cushion assembly for enhanced stability and comfort, enabling easy conversion between seating and bed positions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a complete mattress is folded within the cavity of the sofa, then a functional bed is provided, but the unit becomes heavy and requires an intricate mechanism

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebed functionalityVSAvoidfolding mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bed is divided into three separate sections (head section, intermediate section, and seat section) that can be independently folded and stored. This segmentation allows each section to be managed separately, reducing the overall complexity of the folding mechanism compared to storing a complete mattress as a single unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bed sections are folded from a horizontal sleeping surface configuration into a vertical stacked arrangement within the sofa cavity. This dimensional transformation allows the bed to be compactly stored within the existing sofa structure without requiring a complex mechanism to compress or fold a complete mattress.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If separate sections are used to form a mattress-like sleeping surface, then the mechanism is simpler, but the unit lacks design flexibility for comfortable seating and sleeping configurations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefolding mechanismVSAvoidseating and sleeping configurations

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The bed is divided into three separate sections (head section, intermediate section, and seat section) that can be independently folded and stored. This segmentation allows each section to be managed separately, reducing the overall complexity of the folding mechanism compared to storing a complete mattress as a single unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each bed section (head, intermediate, and seat sections) is equipped with its own cushion assembly, allowing different portions of the bed to have different comfort characteristics. This enables optimized comfort for both seating and sleeping configurations while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If thicker cushions are used for comfort, then seating and sleeping comfort is improved, but the weight and bulk of the unit increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseating and sleeping comfortVSAvoidfurniture unit

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The bed is divided into three separate sections (head section, intermediate section, and seat section) that can be independently folded and stored. This segmentation allows each section to be managed separately, reducing the overall complexity of the folding mechanism compared to storing a complete mattress as a single unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bed sections are folded from a horizontal sleeping surface configuration into a vertical stacked arrangement within the sofa cavity. This dimensional transformation allows the bed to be compactly stored within the existing sofa structure without requiring a complex mechanism to compress or fold a complete mattress.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS9144319B2Seating unit convertible to bed

Publication Date: 2015.09.29 ULTRA MEK INC

AI summary

A seating unit having a foldable bed includes: a base with an internal cavity and a rear wall; a foldable bed that includes separate and distinct head, intermediate and seat sections, wherein in a folded position, the intermediate and seat sections are generally horizontally disposed and positioned in vertically stacked relationship, and the head section is generally vertically disposed and positioned adjacent the rear wall of the base, and in an unfolded position, the head, intermediate and seat sections are generally horizontally disposed and in serial alignment with each other; and a bed folding mechanism that is attached to the base and the head, intermediate and seat sections that controls the movement of the bed between the folded and unfolded positions.