Vertically deployable sofa convertible into bunk bed

Abstract

A sofa bed is convertible to a bunk bed using a base frame assembly; an upper bunk assembly to be disposed on the base frame assembly in a seating position and to be disposed above the base frame assembly in a bunk bed position; a front link and a rear link pivotally attached to the base frame assembly and the upper bunk assembly, alternative embodiments adding a flange plate secured to the rear link with a motor, cable, drive, screw and drive assembly, or adding a torsion spring assembly, or substituting vertical scissors mechanism for the links or substituting telescoping supports for the link assemblies.

In accordance with the invention it is claimed: 
     
         1 . A sofa convertible into a bunk bed comprising:
 a base frame assembly;   a upper bunk assembly configured to be disposed on said base frame assembly in a seating position and to be disposed above said base frame assembly in a bunk bed position;   rear lift means for vertically lifting and lowering said upper bunk assembly relative to said base frame assembly;   mechanical assistance means for imparting force on and storing energy from said lifting and lowering;   wherein a first end of said rear lift is attached to said upper bunk assembly and a second end of said rear lift is pivotally attached to said base frame assembly;   front lift means for vertically lifting and lowering said upper bunk assembly relative to said base frame assembly;   a first end of said front lift is attached to said upper bunk assembly and a second end of said front lift is attached to said base frame assembly;   said front lift, rear lift forming a first lift assembly on a first side;   a second lift assembly comprising a mirror image of said first lift assembly is formed and arranged on a second said of said sofa.   
     
     
         2 . A sofa convertible into a bunk bed comprising:
 a base frame assembly;   a upper bunk assembly configured to be disposed on said base frame assembly in a seating position and to be disposed above said base frame assembly in a bunk bed position;   rear lift means for vertically lifting and lowering said upper bunk assembly relative to said base frame assembly;   mechanical assistance means for imparting force on and storing energy from said lifting and lowering;   wherein a first end of said rear lift is attached to said upper bunk assembly and a second end of said rear lift is pivotally attached to said base frame assembly;   front lift means for vertically lifting and lowering said upper bunk assembly relative to said base frame assembly;   a first end of said front lift is attached to said upper bunk assembly and a second end of said front lift is attached to said base frame assembly.   
     
     
         3 . The sofa according to  claim 2 , wherein a first end of said rear lift attached to said upper bunk assembly and a second end of said rear lift is attached to said base frame assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The sofa according to  claim 3  further comprising said rear lift first end and said rear lift second end are formed and arranged so as to be separate interconnected members that are connected one to the other. 
     
     
         5 . The sofa according to  claim 4 , further comprising a first end of said front lift is attached to said upper bunk assembly and a second end of said front lift is attached to said base frame assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The sofa according to  claim 5  further comprising said front lift first end and said front lift second end are formed and arranged so as to be separate interconnected members that are connected one to the other. 
     
     
         7 . The sofa according to  claim 6  further comprising: said front lift and rear lift are formed and arranged as one of scissors linkages or telescoping members. 
     
     
         8 . The sofa according to  claim 7  further comprising: said front lift and rear lift are formed and arranged as one of cable actuated, screw drive actuated, hydraulically actuated or pneumatically actuated telescoping members. 
     
     
         9 . A sofa convertible into a bunk comprising:
 a base frame assembly;   a upper bunk assembly configured to be disposed on said base frame assembly in a seating position and to be disposed above said base frame assembly in a bunk bed position;   a rear lift assembly attached to said base frame assembly and said upper bunk assembly;   a front lift assembly pivotally attached to said base frame assembly and said upper bunk assembly;   said rear lift assembly formed of top and bottom members movably interconnected to one another;   said front lift assembly formed of top and bottom members movably interconnected to one another;   said rear lift assembly being coordinated with said front lift assembly to move said upper bunk entirely vertically relative to said base.   
     
     
         10 . The sofa according to  claim 9  further comprising:
 said rear lift assembly being a rear link assembly pivotally attached to said base frame assembly and said upper bunk assembly; 
 said front lift assembly a front link assembly pivotally attached to said base frame assembly and said upper bunk assembly; 
 said rear link assembly formed of top and bottom links pivotally interconnected to one another; 
 said front link assembly formed of top and bottom links pivotally interconnected to one another; 
 said rear link being formed as a scissors arrangement that folds forwardly to lower and rearwardly to raise; 
 said front link being formed as a scissors arrangement that folds rearwardly to lower and forwardly to raise. 
 
     
     
         11 . The sofa according to  claim 10  further comprising:
 said rear link assembly and front link assembly lifts vertically with rear linkage and cylinder assembly and front linkage and cylinder assembly, respectively; 
 said front and rear cylinder assemblies urging said bottom links upwardly and compressing as said bottom links move downwardly. 
 
     
     
         12 . The sofa according to  claim 11  further comprising:
 said rear link assembly and front link assembly having gas cylinders pivotally connected thereto at a cylinder connection located between their respective pivots attaching the bottom link to the base and a scissors pivot. 
 
     
     
         13 . The sofa according to  claim 9  further comprising:
 said rear lift assembly being plurality of telescoping members; 
 said front lift assembly a being plurality of telescoping members. 
 
     
     
         14 . The sofa according to  claim 13  further comprising:
 said rear telescoping members collapsing and extending using one of cable, screw, hydraulic or pneumatic mechanisms; 
 said front telescoping members collapsing and extending using one of cable, screw, hydraulic or pneumatic mechanisms. 
 
     
     
         15 . The sofa according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 said front lift assembly and rear lift assembly are a first bunk deployment assembly on a first side;   a second bunk deployment assembly comprising a mirror image of said first bunk deployment assembly is formed and arranged on a second said of said sofa;   said and second bunk deployment assemblies being coordinated with one another to move said upper bunk entirely vertically relative to said base.   
     
     
         16 . The sofa according to  claim 15  further comprising:
 said first bunk deployment assembly and said second bunk deployment assemblies each having said rear lift assembly being a rear link assembly pivotally attached to said base frame assembly and said upper bunk assembly; 
 said first bunk deployment assembly and said second bunk deployment assemblies each having a front link assembly pivotally attached to said base frame assembly and said upper bunk assembly; 
 said first and second rear link assemblies formed of top and bottom links pivotally interconnected to one another at a scissors pivot; 
 said first and second front link assemblies formed of top and bottom links pivotally interconnected to one another at a scissors pivot; 
 said first and second rear link being formed as a scissors arrangement that folds forwardly to lower and rearwardly to raise; 
 said first and second front link being formed as a scissors arrangement that folds rearwardly to lower and forwardly to raise. 
 
     
     
         16 . The sofa according to  claim 15  further comprising:
 said first and second rear link assemblies and said first and second front link assemblies having gas cylinders pivotally connected thereto at a cylinder connection located between their respective pivots attaching the bottom link to the base and the scissors pivot. 
 
     
     
         17 . The sofa according to  claim 16  further comprising:
 said rear link assembly and front link assembly lifts vertically with rear linkage and cylinder assembly and front linkage and cylinder assembly, respectively; 
 said cylinder assemblies urging said bottom links upwardly and compressing as said bottom links move downwardly. 
 
     
     
         18 . The sofa according to  claim 15  further comprising:
 said rear lift assembly being plurality of telescoping members; 
 said front lift assembly a being plurality of telescoping members. 
 
     
     
         19 . The sofa according to  claim 18  further comprising:
 said rear telescoping members collapsing and extending using one of cable, screw, hydraulic or pneumatic mechanisms; 
 said front telescoping members collapsing and extending using one of cable, screw, hydraulic or pneumatic mechanisms.