Motorized Sofa Bed with Screw-Drive Linkage for Easy Conversion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motorized sofa beds and conversion kits require large, heavy, and cumbersome linkage mechanisms that are difficult to activate manually, necessitating a simpler and more efficient mechanism for easy conversion between sofa and bed positions.
Innovation Solution
A motorized furniture assembly with a power assembly, including a power supply, controller, and actuator-driven linkage system, utilizing rotatable screw drives and universal brackets to move seat and back support sections relative to a stationary frame, allowing for quick and easy conversion between sofa and bed positions, and a pre-assembled kit for easy installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a motorized drive assembly with screw drive is used, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operation with an electric motorized drive assembly that uses a screw drive mechanism. The motorized shuttle moves along the screw drive to provide controlled mechanical motion, eliminating the need for manual strength and complex manual linkage manipulation while achieving reliable sofa-to-bed conversion.
Solution Approach 2:
The conversion mechanism is divided into separate functional modules: a motorized drive assembly with screw drive for power transmission, a shuttle for linear motion, and linkage assemblies for motion transfer. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall system by distributing complexity across manageable subsystems.
2Device complexity
If a simple linkage mechanism is used, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces simple manual mechanical linkages with a motorized drive system that uses a screw drive mechanism. This provides controlled, rapid motion actuation that is both simple in concept and fast in execution, achieving quick conversion between sofa and bed positions without requiring complex multi-stage mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The screw drive mechanism provides periodic rotational motion that is converted to linear motion of the shuttle. This periodic action enables rapid back-and-forth movement between sofa and bed positions, achieving high conversion speed through repeated cyclic operation of the motorized drive assembly.
3Device complexity
If manual conversion is used, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operation with an electric motorized drive assembly. The motor provides automated power actuation that eliminates the need for manual strength and complex manual manipulation, making the conversion operation simple and easy while maintaining mechanical simplicity through the use of a straightforward screw drive mechanism.
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
Enables easy and quick conversion between sofa and bed positions using a compact and efficient motorized system, reducing the need for manual strength and simplifying the installation process for furniture manufacturers and users.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the motorized drive assemblies (62) comprises a rotatable screw drive (84) used to move a shuttle (88) forward and backward relative to the stationary frame (12).
Data Source
AI summary
A motorized furniture assembly having seat and back support sections moves between sofa and bed positions relative to a stationary frame by activation of two motorized drive assemblies. The motorized drive assemblies move seat support brackets of a seat section forward and backward relative to the stationary frame. Movement of the seat section moves a back support section between horizontal and raised positions. Two linkage assemblies control movement of the motorized furniture assembly between the sofa and bed positions upon actuation of said at least one actuator for activating the motorized drive assemblies.