Hideaway Sofa with Recessed Backrest for Fold-Down Bed Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fold-down beds require removal of cushions or use complex mechanisms to achieve horizontal positioning, risking breakage and offering poor ergonomics and high manufacturing costs.

Innovation Solution

A hideaway sofa design with a recess in the seat back that houses the bed when folded, integrating the cushion and adjacent sofa portion into a lower recess, eliminating the need for cushion removal and using simple mechanisms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If cushions are removed from the backrest before folding down the bed, then the bed can be completely horizontal, but the operation becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehorizontal positioning of bedVSAvoidcushion removal requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The sofa backrest is designed with a recess that accommodates the bed when folded down. The cushion remains on the backrest while the bed nests into the recessed space, eliminating the need to remove the cushion for horizontal positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of solving the horizontal positioning problem by removing the cushion (one-dimensional solution), the invention creates a recessed space in the backrest that provides additional vertical and depth dimensions, allowing the bed to achieve horizontal positioning while the cushion remains in place.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If complex mechanisms with joints are used to fold the sofa, then cushion removal is not necessary, but the device complexity increases and manufacturing cost rises

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveno cushion removal neededVSAvoidmechanisms and joints
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The backrest is segmented by creating a recessed portion that separates the cushion-retaining function from the bed-support function. This segmentation allows the bed to fold horizontally without requiring complex joint mechanisms, as the recess provides the necessary movement space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the bed-folding function from the cushion-support function by creating a dedicated recessed space in the backrest. This separation allows the bed to fold independently without requiring complex mechanisms that would interfere with the cushion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Device complexity

If backrest height is limited to avoid complexity, then mechanisms are simpler, but ergonomic comfort deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanism simplicityVSAvoidergonomic comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The recessed backrest creates a nested structure where the bed folds into the recessed space. This allows the overall backrest to maintain a comfortable height for ergonomics while the recessed portion provides the necessary space for the bed to fold horizontally without requiring complex mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP4238454B1Hideaway sofa for a fold-down bed
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 FAMA SOFAS
  • EP4238454B1 patent drawingFigure 1~1C
  • EP4238454B1 patent drawingFigure 2~2C
  • EP4238454B1 patent drawingFigure 3~3C

AI summary

The present invention describes a hideaway sofa for a fold-down bed comprising a bed (2) that is foldable between a closed position and an open position, and the seat of the sofa remains housed when the bed (2) is folded down.