Convertible sofa-bed and method therefore

Abstract

The present invention is a simple convertible futon sofa-bed. In particular the convertible futon sofa-bed is comprised of a pair of armrest sub-assemblies, a front stretcher rail and a back stretcher rail connecting the pair of armrest assemblies, a seat-deck, a back-deck and a ratchet connecting means to convert the convertible futon sofa-bed from a sofa position to a bed position.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An improved convertible futon sofa-bed assembly comprising:
 a pair of armrest sub-assemblies;   a front stretcher rail;   a back stretcher rail, said back stretcher rail and said front stretcher rail connecting said pair of armrest sub-assemblies;   a seat-deck;   a back-deck, and;   a pair of ratchet connecting means attached to said back-deck and said seat-deck, said back-deck and said seat-deck dimensioned so that the width of said back-deck and the width of said seat-deck are substantially identical, said ratchet connecting means operationally configured such that when said convertible sofa-bed is in the sofa position, said seat-deck is urgeable towards the front of said back-deck until said back-deck rests on said back stretcher rail whereupon said back-deck is lockable onto a pair of grooves on said armrest sub-assemblies, said seat-deck then being further urgeable forward to unlock said ratchet connecting means whereafter said seat-deck is further urgeable downwards until said seat-deck rests on the front stretcher rail in a bed position wherein said seat-deck and said back-deck are in an essentially uniplanar position.   
     
     
         2 . The improved convertible futon sofa-bed assembly of  claim 1  wherein the edges of the side rails of the back-deck and the seat deck are secured to the ratchet connecting means by a plurality of nuts and bolts such that the arms of said ratchet connecting means is mounted to at least three inches (0.0762 meter) of said side rails such that the force created during conversion is spread across a significant area of said side rails. 
     
     
         3 . The improved convertible futon sofa-bed as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the angle of inclination of the back-deck ( 65 ) to the seat-deck ( 40 ) is determined by position of the pawl on the ratchet teeth. 
     
     
         4 . The improved convertible futon sofa-bed as in  claim 1  wherein the arms of the ratchet connecting means are introduced into slits at the terminal ends of the side rails of the back-deck and seat-deck and secured by a plurality of nuts and bolts. 
     
     
         5 . The improved convertible futon sofa-bed as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the edge of the side rails of the back-deck and the seat-deck are recessed and contoured to accommodate the arms of the ratchet connecting means. 
     
     
         6 . The improved convertible futon sofa-bed as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the seat-deck is urgeable toward the back-deck by applying a force at any point along front rail of the seat-deck. 
     
     
         7 . The improved convertible futon sofa-bed as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the ratchet connecting means is independent and spatially separated from the pair of armrest sub-assemblies. 
     
     
         8 . The improved convertible futon sofa-bed as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the pair of armrest sub-assemblies, the front stretcher rail, the back stretcher rail, seat-deck and back-deck are of wood, wood based material or wood composite. 
     
     
         9 . A method of converting an improved convertible futon sofa-bed consisting of a pair of armrest sub-assemblies, a front stretcher rail, a back stretcher rail, a seat-deck, a back-deck and a ratchet connecting means pivotally connecting said seat-deck and said back-deck from a sofa position to a bed position comprising the steps of:
 lifting said seat-deck towards said back-deck until said back-deck rests upon said back stretcher rail;   urging said seat-deck further to unlock and to release said ratchet connecting means, and;   further urging said seat-deck back to said front stretcher rail whereupon said back-deck and said seat-deck are in a essentially uniplanar position.   
     
     
         10 . A method of converting an improved convertible sofa-bed consisting of a pair of armrest sub-assemblies, a front stretcher rail, a back stretcher rail, a seat-deck, a back-deck and a ratchet connecting means pivotally connecting said seat-deck and said back-deck from a bed position to a lounge position comprising the steps of:
 lifting said seat-deck upward to reach the position in said ratchet connecting means where a locking sound is heard confirming registration of position, and;   urging said seat-deck back to said front stretcher rail whereupon said back-deck and said seat-deck are in a lounge position.   
     
     
         11 . A method of converting an improved convertible sofa-bed consisting of a pair of armrest sub-assemblies, a front stretcher rail, a back stretcher rail, a seat-deck, a back-deck and a ratchet connecting means pivotally connecting said seat-deck and said back-deck from a lounge position to a sofa position comprising the steps of:
 lifting said seat-deck towards said back-deck until said back-deck rests upon said back stretcher rail;   urging said seat-deck further to unlock and to release said ratchet connecting means;   further lifting said seat-deck toward said back-deck until said back-deck rests upon said back stretcher rail;   further urging said seat-deck to reach the next desired position in said ratchet connecting means where a locking sound is heard confirming registration of position, and;   still further urging said seat-deck back to said front stretcher rail whereupon said back-deck and said seat-deck are in a sofa position.