Convertible furniture construction

Abstract

The present invention provides a furniture construction, and an associated method of manufacture, that can be converted from a bed to a table and vice versa. According to one embodiment, the furniture construction includes a support structure, a bed frame movably connected to the support structure so that the bed frame can be rotated between an inoperative first position and an operative second position, and a table movably connected to the support structure so that the table can be adjusted between an operative first position and an inoperative second position. The bed frame and the table are structured such that when the bed frame is in the operative second position the table is in the inoperative second position, and when the table is in the operative first position the bed frame is in the inoperative second position.

1 . A furniture construction, comprising: 
 a support structure having a pair of end members;    a bed frame movably connected to said end members of said support structure so that said bed frame can be moved between an inoperative first position and an operative second position;    a table movably connected to said end members of said support structure so that said table can be adjusted between an operative first position and an inoperative second position; and    wherein said bed frame and said table are structured such that when said bed frame is in the operative second position said table is in the inoperative second position, and when said table is in the operative first position said bed frame is in the inoperative second position.    
   
   
       2 . A furniture construction according to  claim 1  wherein the inoperative first position of said bed frame is substantially vertical and the operative second position of said bed frame is substantially horizontal.  
   
   
       3 . A furniture construction according to  claim 1  further comprising at least one biasing mechanism structured to bias said table from the inoperative second position toward the operative first position.  
   
   
       4 . A furniture construction according to  claim 3  wherein said biasing mechanism comprises a piston and cylinder assembly.  
   
   
       5 . A furniture construction according to  claim 1  further comprising a locking mechanism to maintain said bed frame in second operative second position.  
   
   
       6 . A furniture construction according to  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of said bed frame is frictionally received between said table and said support structure.  
   
   
       7 . A furniture construction, comprising: 
 a support structure having a pair of end members;    a bed frame comprising a pair of end members and a planar member extending therebetween, each of said end members of said bed frame being rotatably connected to one of said end members of said support structure so that said bed frame can be rotated between an inoperative first position and an operative second position;    a table comprising a planar member, said planar member of said table being adjustably connected to each of said end members of said support structure so that said table can be adjusted between an operative first position and an inoperative second position; and    wherein said bed frame and said table are structured such that when said bed frame is in the operative second position said table is in the inoperative second position, and when said table is in the operative first position said bed frame is in the inoperative second position.    
   
   
       8 . A furniture construction according to  claim 7  wherein the inoperative first position of said bed frame is substantially vertical and the operative second position of said bed frame is substantially horizontal.  
   
   
       9 . A furniture construction according to  claim 7  further comprising at least one biasing mechanism structured to bias said table from the inoperative second position toward the operative first position.  
   
   
       10 . A furniture construction according to  claim 9  wherein said biasing mechanism comprises a piston and cylinder assembly.  
   
   
       11 . A furniture construction according to  claim 7  further comprising a locking mechanism to maintain said bed frame in second operative second position.  
   
   
       12 . A furniture construction according to  claim 7  wherein at least a portion of one of said end members of said bed frame is frictionally received between said table and the corresponding one of said end members of said support structure.  
   
   
       13 . A method of constructing a furniture construction, comprising: 
 providing a support structure having a pair of end members;    movably connecting a bed frame to the end members of the support structure so that the bed frame can be rotated between an inoperative first position and an operative second position;    movably connecting a table to the end members of the support structure so that the table can be adjusted between an operative first position and an inoperative second position; and    wherein the bed frame and the table are structured such that when the bed frame is in the operative second position the table is in the inoperative second position, and when the table is in the operative first position the bed frame is in the inoperative second position.    
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 13  wherein the inoperative first position of the bed frame is substantially vertical and the operative second position of the bed frame is substantially horizontal.  
   
   
       15 . A furniture construction, comprising: 
 a support structure having a pair of end members defining a space therebetween;    a bed frame movably connected to said end members of said support structure so that said bed frame can be moved between an inoperative first position and an operative second position; and    a desk slidably disposed between said end members of said support structure so that said desk can be slid into and out of the space defined therebetween.    
   
   
       16 . A furniture construction according to  claim 15  wherein the inoperative first position of said bed frame is substantially vertical and the operative second position of said bed frame is substantially horizontal.  
   
   
       17 . A method of constructing a furniture construction, comprising: 
 providing a support structure having a pair of end members defining a space therebetween;    movably connecting a bed frame to the end members of the support structure so that the bed frame can be rotated between an inoperative first position and an operative second position;    slidably positioning a desk between the end members of the support structure so that the desk can be slid into and out of the space defined between the pair of end members.    
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein the inoperative first position of the bed frame is substantially vertical and the operative second position of the bed frame is substantially horizontal.