Combination bed and table

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a combination bed and table.

The specification of the applicant's U.S.A. patent No.4277856 describes an article of furniture which comprises first and second support members and at least one planar member supported by at least one of the support members. The support members are movable between first positions at which the planar member is substantially horizontally and forms a working top, and second positions at which the support members provide at least part of a sleeping surface.

The aforementioned American patent specification illustrates in Figures 2 and 3 two preferred embodiments. In the Figure 2 embodiment use is made of filler cushions or a bridging piece to ensure that the sleeping surface which is formed by a number of cushions is substantially co-planar.

In the Figure 3 embodiment a connecting piece which is positioned between the two support members is brought to a co-planar relationship with the support members when the article of furniture is in a bed mode. However this particular feature, which is most desirable, is only achieved at the expense of a deviation from standard dimensions of the bed or table. Thus it has been found that the connecting piece has a relatively narrow dimension which leads to the overall length of the bed being reduced to a shorter bed length than is normally acceptable. If the lengths of the support members are increased to compensate for this reduction then the article of furniture, when in the table mode, has a height which is greater than the standard accepted height.

On the other hand in the two support members have standard heights which are acceptable when in the table mode and the width of the connecting member is increased so that the overall length of the bed is an acceptable standard length then, when the article of furniture is in the table mode, the width of the pedestal which supports the planar member which acts as a working top, is too great and it is not possible to be comfortably seated at the table, because of inadequate leg room.

The specification of UK patent GB-A-900296 discloses a combination bed and table according to the preamble of claim 1 of this specification. The specification of French patent No. FR-A-494668 discloses further relevant prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is concerned with a combination bed and table which can be manufactured to acceptable dimensions and which can easily be converted between a table mode and a bed mode without additional components being required.

The invention provides a combination bed and table which includes first and second support members, a bridging member between the support members, connection means connected to the support members, and a planar member attached to one of the support members, the support members being movable between a table mode at which the support members are substantially vertical, the planar member is substantially horizontal thereby forming a working top, and the bridging member is at a first position, and a bed mode at which the planar member is substantially vertical and the support members are substantially horizontal and co-planar, in the bed mode the bridging member being elevated from the first position to be co-planar with the support members, the connection means including at least one link which is pivotally connected to each support member at respective pivot points, characterised in that the bridging member is connected to each support member by means which permits pivotal and sliding movement of the bridging member relatively to the respective support member, allowing the bridging member to be elevated from the first position to be co-planar with the support members in the bed mode.

A "working top", as used herein, is intended to include a table surface.

The bridging member, at each of two opposed ends, may have two slots and each slot may have engaged with it a pin which extends from the respective support member and which is slidable and pivotable relatively to the slot.

When the support members are in the table mode, the pivot points may be further apart from each other than the spacing between the pins, and, when the support members are moved to the bed mode, each pin may be elevated to a position which is higher than the pivot points.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a combination bed and table according to the invention in a table mode,
• Figure 2 illustrates the combination of Figure 1 in the course of being adjusted to a bed mode, and
• Figure 3 shows the combination bed and table in a bed mode.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The drawings illustrate a combination bed and table 10 which includes two support members 12 and 14 which are mounted to respective U-shaped steel frames 16 and 18, a planar member 20 which is fixed to the frame 18, links 22 on opposed sides of the frames 16 and 18, although only one link is visible in the drawings, and a bridging member 24, shown in greater detail in the inset drawing in Figure 1.

The components 12, 14, 20 and 24 are made from any suitable material such as chipboard, particle board or the like.

The member 24 has end pieces 26 with longitudinally extending slots 28 and 30.

The frames 16 and 18 have wheels 32.

Each link 22 is pivotally mounted at points 34 and 36 to the frames 16 and 18. Each frame has two pins 38 which are slidably and pivotally engaged with the slots 28 and 30.

The support members 12 and 14 form a cavity which contains foam mattress sections 40, 42 and 44 which are linked to one another in a three-way fold. As the combination is moved to the bed mode of Figure 3 it is possible to access the mattress sections which can be unfolded to form a continuous bed surface as shown in Figure 3.

In the table mode the bridging member 24 and the links 22 are at lowermost positions substantially adjacent the floor. Because the pivot points 34 and 36 are spaced from the pivot points 38 relative movement between the links and the bridging member takes place when the combination is moved to the bed mode. As the support members 12 and 14 move apart, the gap between them increases. The links move down away from the bridging member which moves upwardly into the gap between, and co-planar, with the support members. The mattress sections 40 to 44 thus provide a continuous bed surface.

The relative movement between the support members 12 and 14, the bridging member 24 and the links 22, makes it possible to design the combination so that its dimensions, when in the bed or table mode, are acceptable for normal usage.