Futon frame with load bearing detent apparatus

Abstract

A futon frame features the use of a cam and journal system to move and to secure the back and the seat of the futon in a desired position. The cam and journal system provide the means to move the futon from a seat position to a bed position, and also provide the support mechanism to maintain the seat and back platforms in either position without the aid of any other locking mechanism or support arms. The cam and journal system consists of strategically placed cam and journals. The seat and back move in the cams by means of journals in predefined paths.

1 . A futon having a back platform coupled to a seat platform, said back platform and said seat platform having a spatial relationship defined therebetween and moving between a seating position and a bed position, said futon comprising: 
 a futon frame having a first end frame and a second end frame;    a first and a second leg disposed on said first and said second end frame; and    a force spreading mortise plate disposed between said back platform and said seat platform, said force spreading plate having a detent disposed thereon to enable said spatial relationship during engagement of said seat platform and said back platform to be substantially the same as said spatial relationship after movement of said seat platform and said back platform when said futon is moved between said bed position and said seating position.    
   
   
       2 . The futon as recited in  claim 1  wherein said futon further includes a pair of spaced-apart and parallel cross-members, having opposed terminations, extending between said first and said second end frame, with said back platform and said seat platform lying in a common plane in said bed position so that said back platform lies against one of said pair of cross-members and said first platform lies against the remaining cross-member.  
   
   
       3 . The futon as recited in  claim 1  wherein said futon further includes a plurality of spaced-apart and parallel cross-members extending between said first and said second leg.  
   
   
       4 . The futon as recited in  claim 1  further including a cam and journal system comprising a plurality of cams and journals disposed within said futon to provide a means of interchanging of said futon between said seating position and said bed position and locking said seat platform and said back platform in a desired position.  
   
   
       5 . The futon as recited in  claim 1  further including a cam and journal system, with said cam journal system comprising a first journal used in conjunction with a first cam, a second journal used in conjunction with a second cam, and a third journal used in conjunction with a third cam.  
   
   
       6 . The futon as recited in  claim 1  further including a rear cross-member and a front cross-member, having opposed terminations, extending between said first and said second end frame, and with said force spreading mortise plate being disposed on said rear cross-member.  
   
   
       7 . The futon as recited in  claim 1  wherein said detent comprises a resiliently biased spring.  
   
   
       8 . The futon as recited in  claim 1  wherein said detent enables the spatial relation between said seat platform and said back platform to be variable.  
   
   
       9 . The futon as recited in  claim 1  wherein said seat platform and said back platform move in an arcuate manner with respect to each other.  
   
   
       10 . The futon as recited in  claim 1  wherein said futon further includes a plurality of detents.  
   
   
       11 . The futon as recited in  claim 1  further including a cam and journal system comprising a plurality of cams and journals disposed within said futon to provide a means of interchanging of said futon between said seating position and said bed position and locking said seat platform and said back platform in a desired position, with said cam and journal system being lined with a low friction surface.  
   
   
       12 . The futon as recited in  claim 1  further including a cam and journal system comprising a plurality of cams and journals disposed within said futon to provide a means of interchanging of said futon between said seating position and said bed position and locking said seat platform and said back platform in a desired position, with a cam of said plurality of cams being arcuate in shape.  
   
   
       13 . The futon as recited in  claim 1  further including a cam and journal system comprising a plurality of cams and journals disposed within said futon to provide a means of interchanging of said futon between said seating position and said bed position and locking said seat platform and said back platform in a desired position, with a cam of said plurality of cams comprising a throughway for ingression and egression of a journal of said plurality of journals.  
   
   
       14 . The futon as recited in  claim 1  further including a rear cross-member and a front cross-member, having opposed terminations, extending between said first and said second end frame, with said force spreading mortise plate being disposed at opposite ends of said rear cross-member.  
   
   
       15 . A futon having a back platform coupled to a seat platform, said back platform and said seat platform having a spatial relationship defined therebetween and moving between a seating position and a bed position, said futon comprising: 
 a futon frame having a first and a second end frame;    a first and a second disposed on said first and said second end frame;    a cam and journal system comprising a plurality of cams journals disposed within said futon to provide a means of interchanging of said futon between said seating position and said bed position and also locking said seat platform and said back platform in a desired position; and    a force spreading mortise plate disposed between said back platform and said seat platform, said force spreading plate having a detent disposed thereon to enable said spatial relationship during engagement of said seat platform and said back platform to be substantially the same as said spatial relationship after movement of said seat platform and said back platform when said futon moved between said bed position and said seating position.    
   
   
       16 . The futon as recited in  claim 15  wherein said futon further includes a pair of spaced-apart and parallel cross-members, having opposed terminations, extending between said first and said second end frame, with said back platform and said seat platform lying in a common plane in said bed position so that said back platform lies against one of said pair of cross-members and said first platform lies against the remaining cross-member.  
   
   
       17 . The futon as recited in  claim 15  wherein said futon further includes a plurality of spaced-apart and parallel cross-members extending between said first and said second leg.  
   
   
       18 . The futon as recited in  claim 15  wherein said cam and journal system comprises a first journal used in conjunction with a first cam, a second journal used in conjunction with a second cam, and a third journal used in conjunction with a third cam.  
   
   
       19 . The futon as recited in  claim 15  further including a rear cross-member and a front cross-member, having opposed terminations, extending between said first and said second end frame, with said force spreading mortise plate being disposed on said rear cross-member.  
   
   
       20 . The futon as recited in  claim 15  wherein said detent comprises a resiliently biased spring.  
   
   
       21 . The futon as recited in  claim 15  wherein said detent enables the spatial relation between said seat platform and said back platform to be variable.  
   
   
       22 . The futon as recited in  claim 15  wherein said seat platform and said back platform move in an arcuate manner with respect to each other.  
   
   
       23 . The futon as recited in  claim 15  wherein said futon further includes a plurality of detents.  
   
   
       24 . The futon as recited in  claim 15  wherein said cam and journal system is lined with a low friction surface.  
   
   
       25 . The futon as recited in  claim 15  wherein a cam of said plurality of cams is arcuate in shape.  
   
   
       26 . The futon as recited in  claim 15  wherein a cam of said plurality of cams comprises a throughway for ingression and egression of a journal of said plurality of journals.  
   
   
       27 . The futon as recited in  claim 15  further including a rear cross-member and a front cross-member, having opposed terminations, extending between said first and said second end frame, with said force spreading mortise plate being disposed at opposite ends of said rear cross-member.