SEATING FURNITURE, WHICH CAN BE CONVERTED INTO IN A BED, AND COVER FOR THE LYING SURFACE OF AN ITEM OF FURNITURE OF THIS TYPE

SIEGE CONVERTIBLE EN LIT ET HOUSSE POUR LA SURFACE DE COUCHAGE D'UN TEL ELEMENT DE MOBILIER

English Abstract

An item of seating furniture, which can be converted into a bed, is provided
with a frame (1) and with at least one trolley (2, 3) that can be stowed
inside and retracted from the frame (1). The frame (1) and the chassis (2, 3)
comprise, as a support for seating or lying cushions (23, 24, 25), slats (10,
10a, 10b), which are fastened on one side and which extend in the retracting
direction of the chassis (2, 3) (the chassis). The slats (10, 10a, 10b) are
interspaced in such a manner that the slats of the chassis (10a, 10b) (the
chassis) are located between the slats (10) of the frame (1) when the chassis
(2, 3) is in a stowed state (the chassis). A cover (26) for an item of
furniture of this type comprises a sheet (37) and a soft layer (36) located
underneath. The soft layer (36) has an elasticity that resists rolling up so
that the layer (36) automatically unrolls over the lying surface after having
been rolled up with the sheet (37). This results in an arrangement that is
simple and comfortable to use.

French Abstract

L'invention concerne un siège pouvant être converti en lit, qui comprend un châssis (1) et au moins un chariot (2, 3) pouvant être introduit dans ledit châssis (1) et en être ressorti. Ledit châssis (1) et le(s) chariot(s) comprennent comme support pour la garniture de siège ou de lit (23, 24, 25), des lattes (10, 10a, 10b) fixées d'un côté et s'étendant dans le sens de sortie du(des) chariot(s) (2, 3). Lesdites lattes (10, 10a, 10b) présentent un écart mutuel tel que les lattes (10, 10a, 10b) du(des) chariot(s) (10a, 10b) se situent entre les lattes (10) du châssis (2, 3) lorsque le chariot (2, 3) est en position rentrée. Une housse (26) prévue pour un tel élément de mobilier présente un drap (37) et une couche souple (36) située en dessous. La couche souple (36) présente une élasticité exerçant un effet inverse à un enroulement, de sorte que la couche (36) s'enroule automatiquement sur la surface de couchage, après enroulement avec le drap (37). L'invention permet d'obtenir un système simple et agréable à utiliser.

Claims

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CLAIMS
1. A cover for the lying surface of a piece of
furniture, with a sheet and a soft layer (36)
situated therebeneath, characterized in that the
soft layer (36) has an elasticity which is opposed
to rolling up, so that the layer (36), after
rolling up with the sheet (37), automatically
unrolls over the lying surface.
2. The cover according to Claim 1, characterized in
that a fitted sheet (39) made of a fabric with is
substantially non-elastic in the longitudinal
direction is arranged on the side lying opposite
the sheet (37).
3. The cover according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized
in that the end which is to be rolled out is
connected with a rod (40).
4. The cover according to Claim 1, characterized in
that a blanket (42) lying on the sheet (37) is
also rolled in.
5. The cover according to any of Claims 1 to 4,
characterized in that the lying surface of the
soft layer (36) and the underside of the soft
layer (36) consists of furnishing fabric.
6. A piece of seating furniture with a backrest,
which is able to be converted into a piece of
furniture for lying, characterized in that a
rolled-up cover (26) according to any of Claims 1
to 5 is arranged behind the backrest.

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7. The piece of seating furniture according to Claim
6, characterized in that an upright support or
panel is arranged behind the rolled-up cover (26)
and a Velcro-type strip is provided between the
support or panel and the rolled-up cover (26).

Description

CA 02602346 2007-09-21
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SEATING FURNITURE, WHICH CAN BE CONVERTED INTO IN A BED,
AND COVER FOR THE LYING SURFACE OF AN ITEM OF
FURNITURE OF THIS TYPE
The invention relates to a cover for the lying surface
of such a piece of furniture.
Nowadays, high quality beds have two mattresses, namely
a harder one at the bottom and a softer one on the top.
The upper mattress is also often called a "comfort
mattress". The upper, softer mattress provides support
for the body in the sleeping position over a larger
area. This combination of hard and soft is regarded by
the majority of experts as the ideal solution.
For reasons of hygiene, it is usual to cover the lying
surface of a bed or a piece of seating furniture which
is able to be converted into a piece of lying furniture
with a sheet. The furnishing fabric is thereby also
protected in convertible seating or so-called couches.
Covering with a sheet is relatively complicated,
because it has to be pulled from several sides.
Therefore, proposals have already been made to simplify
the covering with a sheet. In particular, it has been
proposed to roll up the sheet, possibly with an
underlayer, on an automatic roller when not in use.
Such suggestions have also already been put into
practice.
Aim of the invention is to provide a cover which is
simpler to handle than hitherto. This is achieved in
that the soft layer has an elasticity which is opposed
to rolling up, so that the layer, after rolling up with

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the sheet, automatically unrolls over the lying
surface.
The roll of a cover according to the invention is held
together for example by a band or suchlike and, after

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the band is opened, unrolls automatically together with
the sheet and lays itself over the lying surface. The
sheet may be connected with the soft layer here by a
Velcro-type fastening, press studs or similar
connecting means which are easy to undo.
The soft layer generally consists of two materials,
namely a fibre material above and a foam material or
rubber or polyether below.
Underlayers of foam or suchlike, which unroll
automatically, are already known. These underlayers are
laid on the ground for example when camping, however
they are not connected with a sheet. The covering of a
bed with a sheet would therefore not be facilitated by
such underlayers.
Further features of the invention are pointed out in
subclaims in connection with the description of the
figures.
The invention is described in further detail below with
the aid of example embodiments which are illustrated in
the drawings, without being limited to these examples,
in which:
Fig. 1 shows in a diagrammatic view a bed or a couch
which is provided with a cover according to the
invention;
Fig. 2 shows a partial view onto a cover roll, a rod
being suspended at the end;
Fig. 3 shows a partial longitudinal section through the
end of such a cover.
According to Fig. 1, a mattress 32 is laid on a bed
frame 31. The bed frame 31 is provided with a bedhead

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33 which has a cavity 34. This cavity is able to be
closed toward the front by a padded cover (not shown).
A cover 26, which has a soft layer 36 and a sheet 37,
lies on the mattress 32. The sheet 37 is connected with
the soft layer 36 by means of a Velcro-type fastening
38.
The soft layer 36 consists of a material which is
elastic, such that it is able to automatically unroll a
roll consisting of a soft layer 36 and a sheet 37. In
Fig. 1, such a roll (cover 26) is shown during
unrolling, which is shown by the arrow marked in the
drawing.
Underneath the soft layer 36, a fitted sheet 39 is
arranged, which is also rolled in. This fitted sheet 39
consists of a fabric, e.g. a cotton drill, which is
substantially non-elastic in the longitudinal
direction. The arrangement of such a non-elastic fitted
sheet 39 causes the soft layer 36 to be prevented from
increasing its extent as a result of its elasticity
during rolling and subsequently.
The rolling and unrolling of the cover 26 is
facilitated by a rod 40 which is connected with the end
of the cover 26 which is to be rolled. As can be seen
from Fig. 2, this rod 40 is connected with the cover 26
by means of a strip of material 41.
In the example embodiment according to Fig. 3, the
fitted sheet 39', lying under the soft layer 36, is
formed by the sheet 37' wrapped around the soft layer
36.
It is also indicated in Fig. 1 that a blanket 42 or an
item of bedding lying on the sheet 37 can be rolled

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into the cover 26. The blanket 42 is only approximately
half illustrated here.
The entire subsequent roll 26 (layer 36, sheet 37 and
blanket or item of bedding 42) consists here of very
soft materials. By pressing onto the roll during
rolling, and by the rigid rod and the non-elastic outer
side, the material is pressed in to less than one third
of its original volume.
When the seat or the bed and at least the visible part
of the roll 26 is covered with furnishing fabric, the
roll can be used as a back-rest.
In the rolled state, the cover (roll) 26 can be housed
in the cavity 34 of a bedhead.
In various items of furniture, a panel may be provided,
against which the roll 26 is rolled. The roll 26 can
then remain held rolled against the panel for example
by an arranged Velcro-type strip.
The space for the roll 26 behind a backrest normally
does not have a round shape. The cavity in the backrest
is generally higher than the roll and widens conically
downwards. Despite the compression which is achieved as
a result of the non-elastic fitted sheet and the rigid
rod, the roll is, however, still sufficiently soft to
fit into the cavity which is available.