Futon flipper

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a strap system for closing a futon frame that has a mattress.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Strap systems that can be used to assist in carrying or moving objects are known in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,944,713 to Beach discloses a strap system with a handle that can be attached to a container at two locations for carrying the container.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,370,767 to Fraser discloses a strap for holding a beach mat in a rolled up configuration.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,370,286 to Newman discloses a carrying strap having end loops, a handle in the middle and adjustable straps between the handle and the end loops.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,897 to Briggs et al. discloses a garment bag with adjustable shoulder straps to carry the bag.

The present invention is directed to a strap system to move a furniture piece, such as a futon, from an open to a closed position. The strap system has end loops whose length can be adjusted with belt buckles, connecting adjustable length strap members for each end loop and a handle between the strap members, all as will be detailed in the specification that follows hereafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a strap system used to close an opened futon.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide for an improved strap system for use with a furniture piece that has movable portions.

Another object is to provide for such a strap system designed for closing an open futon.

Another object is to provide for a strap system which can be used by persons with handicaps or elderly persons.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to readers from a consideration of the ensuing description and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1

is a front view of the present invention.

FIG. 2

is a side view of the present invention on a fully opened or reclined futon.

FIG. 3

is a side view of the present invention with the futon closed and the back portion raised.

FIG. 4

is a back view showing the present invention on a futon.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1

is a front view of the present invention showing the strap system

1

. The system

1

has two end loops

3

,

5

, two buckles

7

,

9

to allow the end loops to be adjusted, two connecting links

11

,

13

, adjustors

15

,

17

for the two strap members

19

,

21

and a handle

23

. Each of the loops

3

,

5

, as well as the two strap members

19

,

21

, may be adjusted in length independent of the other loop or strap member. The conventional belt type buckles

7

,

9

permit the loops to be adjusted in length. Holes

8

, along the lengths of each loop

3

,

5

, permit elongated engaged members (not shown) on the belt buckle

7

,

9

to vary the lengths of the loops. Similarly, the adjustors

15

,

17

engage the ends of the strap members

19

,

21

to permit their lengths to be adjusted. The adjustors

15

,

17

may slide back and forth along the length of each strap member

19

,

21

to vary the length of strap loops

20

,

22

. The strap members

19

,

21

and the adjustors

15

,

17

may be made of nylon material, although other suitable materials can also be used. Also, the adjustors

15

,

17

are conventional, therefore, no further description is necessary or will be given.

Each of the strap members

19

,

21

is fixed to an end of the handle

23

in any conventional manner. The two segments

24

,

26

of each strap member

19

,

21

, respectively, extend from the handle

23

towards each of the adjustors

15

,

17

. The handle may be made of a strong, lightweight plastic material with a nonslip surface. The linking members

11

,

13

may be extensions to the strap members

19

,

21

after they have passed through their respective adjustors

15

or

17

. It is important that the strap system

1

have sufficient strength to do the intended function of moving the reclined (opened) back portion of a futon to a closed position. It is also important that the strap system have adjustable length components as described so it can be used with futons of different sizes. The individual sub components forming the strap system

1

(e.g., the loops

3

,

5

, buckles

7

,

9

, strap members

19

,

21

, adjustors

15

,

17

and handle

23

) are each in themselves conventional in construction and available commercially as off the shelf items.

FIG. 2

is a side view of the strap system of

FIG. 1

on a fully reclined or opened futon

27

. The movement of the strap system

1

from one position to another is shown in dotted line format. Any necessary length adjustments to the loops

3

,

5

or connecting strap members

19

,

21

have been previously made. Typically, the futon

27

has a pivot joint

29

located on the supporting futon frame

31

. The pivot joint represents the demarcation between the seat portion (to the right) and the back portion of the futon. Above the frame

31

is a conventional mattress

33

whose left hand portion or back portion, see arrow, folds around the pivot joint

29

.

To raise the frame back with the mattress, the strap system, initially shown in the solid line position A, is moved by the handle

23

first to intermediate position B, and then to position C. In position C, the strap members

19

,

21

wrap around the upper end of the mattress. Pulling on handle

23

elevates both the back portion of the frame

31

and the mattress

33

to a generally vertical position (see FIG.

3

). Before the handle is pulled, each of the end loops

3

,

5

have been previously secured to the frame members

34

,

36

(only member

34

is shown in

FIG. 2

) at or near the top end on the back frame portion of the futon

27

. By lifting the handle

23

from positioned A the two strap members

19

,

21

bear against the surface of the mattress

33

at two spaced locations providing for a gripping action which allows the user to pull the handle when in position C to pivot the frame

31

and fold the mattress and the frame at the same time. There are three supporting pairs of legs for the frame

31

with one pair

35

being located on the back portion of the frame.

FIG. 3

is a side view of the strap system on the futon

27

with the back portion raised and the strap system

1

attached. In

FIG. 3

, the back portions of the frame

31

and the mattress

33

are each generally vertically disposed. After pulling on the handle

23

to raise the futon (see arrows D in FIG.

2

), the handle

23

and connecting straps

19

,

21

would extend, or drape downwardly, from the attached spaced locations

34

,

36

where the two end loops

3

,

5

are attached to the frame. When so positioned, the strap system

1

would be hidden from view, when viewing the futon head on from the front. Thus, it is only when the strap system

1

is to be used that the strap system is visible. The two supporting legs

35

(one of which is shown in

FIG. 2

) are mounted to the back frame portion of the futon and can each be pivoted or otherwise retracted into the frame

31

.

FIG. 4

is a back view of the futon

27

showing the strap system

1

. The two end loops

3

,

5

have each been tightly looped around opposite side frame members

34

,

36

adjacent the retracted legs

35

. Depending from the loops

3

,

5

are the links

11

,

13

and the attached strap members

19

,

21

. At approximately the mid portion of the strap system is handle

23

. The back portion of the frame

31

and mattress

33

are depicted forward of the strap system. One of the pairs of frame legs

37

is shown. Another pair of legs is directly in front of pair

37

and therefore not shown.

To retract the back of the frame and the mattress, a user simply pushes from the front of the mattress to move the frame and mattress to the

FIG. 1

position. When the frame is in a horizontal position, if the user desires to again raise the frame and mattress back portions to the

FIGS. 2-3

position, the user takes handle

23

and pulls it up and then forward in the direction of the arrows D, as shown in FIG.

2

.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention and the method of using the same has been described in the foregoing specification with considerable details, it is to be understood that modifications may be made to the invention which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims and modified forms of the present invention done by others skilled in the art to which the invention pertains will be considered infringements of this invention when those modified forms fall within the claimed scope of this invention.