Seating unit convertible to bed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing convertible sofa-beds are either excessively heavy due to complete mattresses or require intricate mechanisms for unfolding and folding, and there is a need for more versatile furniture units that can efficiently transition between sofa and bed configurations.
Innovation Solution
A foldable sofa-bed design featuring separate head, intermediate, and seat sections with respective cushions, supported by wheels and a linear power actuator, allowing for smooth transition between folded and unfolded positions using a bed folding mechanism that maintains the intermediate section's orientation, forming a king-sized bed in the unfolded position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complete mattress is folded within the sofa cavity, then a comfortable sleeping surface is provided, but the unit becomes excessively heavy and requires an intricate mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complete mattress from the sofa-bed structure, extracting only the essential cushioning elements (seat cushion, back cushion, and thin mattress topper) that can be easily stored and deployed. This eliminates the weight and complexity associated with housing a full mattress while maintaining basic sleeping comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The sleeping surface is divided into separate cushion components (seat cushion, back cushion, mattress topper) that can be independently stored, handled, and deployed. This segmentation allows each component to be lightweight and easily managed, avoiding the need for a heavy integrated mattress system.
2Reliability
If a complete mattress is folded within the sofa cavity, then a comfortable sleeping surface is provided, but an intricate mechanism is required to control unfolding and folding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complete mattress from the sofa-bed structure, extracting only the essential cushioning elements (seat cushion, back cushion, and thin mattress topper) that can be easily stored and deployed. This eliminates the weight and complexity associated with housing a full mattress while maintaining basic sleeping comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The sleeping surface is divided into separate cushion components (seat cushion, back cushion, mattress topper) that can be independently stored, handled, and deployed. This segmentation allows each component to be lightweight and easily managed, avoiding the need for a heavy integrated mattress system.
3Weight of moving object
If separate sections are used to form a mattress-like sleeping surface, then weight is reduced, but the mechanism for controlling movement between positions remains complex
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a complex mechanical folding mechanism to transform the sofa into a bed, the patent inverts the approach by using a simple manual lifting and positioning system. The cushions are designed to be easily manipulated by hand, reversing the traditional method where mechanics do the work and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cushion components are designed to be self-contained and easily handled by users without requiring complex mechanical assistance. Each cushion serves its own function and can be independently positioned, allowing the system to be operated without intricate control mechanisms.
4Ease of operation
If wheels are added to support the sections, then ease of movement is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces wheels as optional dynamic elements that can be attached to the cushion components, allowing the sofa-bed to transition from a static to a dynamic configuration. This enables easy movement and repositioning of sections while maintaining the simplicity of the overall design, as the wheels are add-on components rather than integrated mechanical systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design provides a lightweight and user-friendly solution for converting a sofa into a bed, eliminating the need for additional mechanisms and ensuring a comfortable, spacious sleeping surface without the bulk of a separate mattress.
Implementation Method 1
supported by wheels and a linear power actuator, allowing for smooth transition between folded and unfolded positions
Implementation Method 2
The seat section is supported by at least one wheel that rolls on the underlying surface; and the intermediate section is supported by at least one wheel that rolls on the underlying surface
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable sofa-bed includes: a base with an internal cavity and a rear member; a foldable bed that includes separate and distinct head, intermediate and seat sections, each with a respective cushion, wherein in a folded position, the intermediate and seat sections are generally horizontally disposed and positioned in vertically stacked relationship, with the intermediate and seat cushions facing generally upwardly, 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 in serial alignment; 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. In moving from the folded to the unfolded position, the intermediate section maintains generally the same orientation.