Multi-level sofa hinge for sofa convertible

Abstract

A sofa hinge that provides easy conversion of a sofa convertible from one position to another while providing added safety by substantially reducing the risk of an injury to the operator's fingers. The sofa hinge includes a first and a second bracket rotatably connected to the sofa hinge at a bolt. The second bracket includes a semi-circular portion that covers a portion of the lever during the various positions of the sofa. The sofa hinge further includes a cover plate rotatably connected to the sofa hinge at the bolt. The cover plate includes a semi-circular portion and is adjacent to the semi-circular portion of the second bracket. The cover plate covers at least a portion of the semi-circular portion of the second bracket. By having the cover plate conceal the gear mechanism of the sofa hinge, the risk of injury to the operator's fingers is substantially reduced.

1 . A sofa hinge, comprising:
 a first bracket;   a second bracket having a semi-circular portion, wherein said first and second brackets are rotatably connected together via a first bolt;   a lever connected to said first bracket via a first lever latch on said first bracket, wherein said lever is connected to said second bracket via a second lever latch on said second bracket, wherein said lever comprises a plurality of notches, wherein said first lever latch is bolted to an end of said lever, wherein said second lever latch comprises a pin used to select one of said plurality of notches of said lever to select a position of a sofa; and   a cover plate rotatably connected to said first bolt, wherein said cover plate comprises a semi-circular portion, wherein said cover plate covers at least a portion of said semi-circular portion of said second bracket in various positions of said sofa, wherein said semi-circular portion of said second bracket covers a portion of said lever in various positions of said sofa.   
     
     
         2 . The sofa hinge as recited in  claim 1  further comprising:
 a spring connected to said end of said lever, wherein said spring is bolted to said first bracket. 
 
     
     
         3 . The sofa hinge as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a distance from a first end of said first bracket to said first bolt is about 5½ inches in length. 
     
     
         4 . The sofa hinge as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said first bracket comprises a first flap extending from said first end to a second end of said first bracket, wherein a length of said first flap is about 4¾ inches. 
     
     
         5 . The sofa hinge as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said first lever latch is bolted to said end of said lever at a second bolt, wherein a distance of said lever from said second bolt to an opposite end of said lever is about 5 inches in length. 
     
     
         6 . The sofa hinge as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a distance from a first end of said second bracket to said first bolt is about 5½ inches in length. 
     
     
         7 . The sofa hinge as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said second bracket comprises a second flap extending from said first end to a second end of said second bracket, wherein a length of said second flap is about 4¾ inches. 
     
     
         8 . The sofa hinge as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a horizontal distance from a first end to a second end of said semi-circular portion of said cover plate is about 5½ inches in length. 
     
     
         9 . The sofa hinge as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said positions of said sofa comprise a release position, a sofa position, a lounge position and a sofa bed position. 
     
     
         10 . The sofa hinge as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said cover plate is adjacent to said semi-circular portion of said second bracket. 
     
     
         11 . A sofa, comprising:
 a sofa seat;   a back rest;   a hinge rotatably connecting said sofa seat with said back rest, wherein said sofa hinge comprises:
 a first bracket; 
 a second bracket, wherein said second bracket comprises a semi-circular portion, wherein said first and second brackets are rotatably connected together via a first bolt; 
 a lever connected to said first bracket via a first lever latch on said first bracket, wherein said lever is connected to said second bracket via a second lever latch on said second bracket, wherein said lever comprises a plurality of notches, wherein said first lever latch is bolted to an end of said lever, wherein said second lever latch comprises a pin used to select one of said plurality of notches of said lever to select a position of said sofa; and 
   a cover plate rotatably connected to said first bolt, wherein said cover plate comprises a semi-circular portion, wherein said cover plate covers at least a portion of said semi-circular portion of said second bracket in various positions of said sofa, wherein said semi-circular portion of said second bracket covers a portion of said lever in various positions of said sofa.   
     
     
         12 . The sofa as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said sofa hinge further comprises a spring connected to said end of said lever, wherein said spring is bolted to said first bracket. 
     
     
         13 . The sofa as recited in  claim 11 , wherein a distance from a first end of said first bracket to said first bolt is about 5½ inches in length. 
     
     
         14 . The sofa as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said first bracket comprises a first flap extending from said first end to a second end of said first bracket, wherein a length of said first flap is about 4¾ inches. 
     
     
         15 . The sofa as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said first lever latch is bolted to said end of said lever at a second bolt, wherein a distance of said lever from said second bolt to an opposite end of said lever is about 5 inches in length. 
     
     
         16 . The sofa as recited in  claim 11 , wherein a distance from a first end of said second bracket to said first bolt is about 5½ inches in length. 
     
     
         17 . The sofa as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said second bracket comprises a second flap extending from said first end to a second end of said second bracket, wherein a length of said second flap is about 4¾ inches. 
     
     
         18 . The sofa as recited in  claim 11 , wherein a horizontal distance from a first end to a second end of said semi-circular portion of said cover plate is about 5½ inches in length. 
     
     
         19 . The sofa as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said positions of said sofa comprise a release position, a sofa position, a lounge position and a sofa bed position. 
     
     
         20 . The sofa as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said cover plate is adjacent to said semi-circular portion of said second bracket.